A new fare collection system involving IC (Integrated Circuit) cards is being installed on a dozen buses in Pingtan this month and is expected to offer a more convenient service to the public.

The service means passengers, who often don't have the exact change, will just be required to swipe a card in front of the ticket collector.

Gao Jianfei, a director with the local bus service, said that Pingtan has 63 buses in operation, and only the 12 buses operating in the urban area will be installed with the smart system, which is more convenient, faster and hygienic than the usual method.

There will be two kinds of IC cards – a student card costing 324 yuan, for 440 trips, and an adult card will enjoy a 5 percent discount, said an insider.

The IC cards will also be valid on buses in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province.

Gao also said that the local bus operator is in talks with China Mobile and Haixia Bank with the aim of allowing passengers to use their mobile phones and bank cards to pay for their bus trips.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman