Buses running on over 70 lines in Beijing, capital of China, began to provide weather information on March 23.

Over 2,300 buses distributed within the city zone of Beijing opened the service that provides the latest meteorological information of the city every two minutes on an electronic screen in the bus.

According to Li Hui, an official with the Beijing Meteorological Bureau, their cooperation with the Beijing Public Transportation Corporation to provide weather service on buses by using modern technology marks the first of its kind in the country.

"As for meteorological service, the development of information technology does not only mean the advancement of meteorological measurement technology and the improvement of weather reporting veracity, but also means more considerate service to the people," Li said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24,2004)