The city plans to publish its first ever complete public transportation guide, including schedules and maps for Shanghai's more than 900 bus routes, and three rail transportation lines.

The guide is expected to hit the streets in about six months, said Wang Jingde, acting deputy secretary general of Shanghai Transportation Association, which is helping to compile the Shanghai Green Pages, as the guide will be called.

"The book, the first of its kind ever introduced in the city, will be a very useful tool when people travel around the city and beyond as Shanghai's public transportation system has developed rapidly over recent years."

The city plans to add six new urban-rail lines within the next two years, and will expand both of the city's current subway lines.

About 600,000 copies of the Green Pages will be published as early as next March, including 100,000 large versions for government and company use and 500,000 pocket-sized books for individuals.

Most of the pocket-sized guides will be distributed to local citizens free of charge, but about 100,000 will be sold at bookstores, post offices, airports and rail stations for around 15 yuan (US$1.8) each.

The book will be updated once a year and offer detail-ed travel information for buses, metro lines, ferries, airlines, trains and ships.

( eastday.com September 20, 2002)