Qingdao launches free beer-festival bus service

The eastern coastal city of Qingdao has launched a free bus service for visitors to the 2017 Qingdao International Beer Festival, which runs from Aug 4 to 23.

Twenty-two free extra buses are scheduled for peak periods during the annual beer carnival. The buses, parked at Qingdao Railway Station, depart every 3-5 minutes and run approximately 300 trips daily.

The service benefits visitors to Qingdao's Golden Beach, the main venue of the festival where a wide range of activities, including music festivals, performances, artistic parades, drinking competitions and trade events are scheduled .

Four eye-catching old-style buses, painted in blackish green and decorated in a traditional style, are drawing many riders. Drivers and attendants on the bus all wear traditional costumes.

The 12-meter-long electric buses are environment friendly. They are equipped with 28 comfortable seats to provide passengers with a good travel experience.

"The traditional-styled buses help me reminisce back to the middle of the last century," said a tourist surnamed Li from Jiangsu province.

The eastern coastal city of Qingdao is offering free bus service for the 2017 Qingdao International Beer Festival from Aug 4 to 23. [Photo by Zhou Jianliang/dailyqd.com]