Huang Xiaoyu, a resident of Tongzhou district in Nantong, spent only a few minutes waiting for a bus by utilizing an app to check the arrival times in advance.

The application, called "Travel Nantong", can show real-time information about buses in most regions in Nantong.

The launch of the app is one of the efforts Tongzhou authorities have made to improve the public transit system in the district.

Tongzhou has since 2010 invested 85 million yuan ($12.1 million) to improve its public transportation system, especially in rural areas.

In 2015, the opening of a bus route which connects the Tongzhou Bus Station to Dingjiandian village in Xingren town made each village in the district accessible by bus.

To date, the district has 54 bus routes that span a combined 1,069 kilometers.

The district has also promoted the establishment of digital bus station boards, which can provide real-time bus information for waiting passengers.

To date, the district has established 32 digital bus station boards. Another 29 boards are under construction.

Efforts have also been made to integrate the public transportation system into the express delivery industry in Tongzhou.

A bus in Tongzhou district transports express packages. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

At present, two buses in Tongzhou have been used for express delivery, and have to date transported more than 1,000 mails, over 2,000 packages, and over 20,000 newspapers.