Chongqing - On the Yangtze River's Zhongxian section, 200 kilometers from the city center, the ferry "Yuzhongke 2180" serves as the last "water bus" for the local community. It is vital for elderly vegetable farmers who commute daily.

Every morning at 6:30, "Yuzhongke 2180" departs from Yangdu Pier and arrives at Xishan Pier at 8:30. Despite the two-hour journey, compared to a 50-minute car ride, many elderly farmers prefer the spacious, affordable ferry over cramped, costly cars.

Passengers chat inside the "Yuzhongke 2180" passenger ferry cabin, July 10, 2024. (Photo/Xinhua)

A dedication of 27 years

Captain Qin Dayi has worked on this route for 27 years, working 363 days annually, only resting on Chinese New Year's Eve and the first day of the New Year. Despite declining passenger numbers and financial struggles, Qin remains committed, maintaining the same ticket price for over a decade.

After 2016, local water transport traffic dropped sharply. By 2020, only one ferry remained between Yangdu and Xishan, making it difficult for Qin to pay his son's college tuition. Qin and his partner Cao Lifang faced a choice: sell the ferry for 650,000 yuan and quit or continue operating at a loss. With three generations of his family connected to these waters, Qin felt deeply connected to the ferry, the Yangtze River, and the people. Also, recognizing the ferry's crucial role in connecting the elderly to the outside world and preventing their isolation, Qin and Cao chose to persevere.

At a stop on the route of the "Yuzhongke 2180" passenger ferry, Cao Lifang and two crew members assisted farmers in boarding the ferry safely on July 10, 2024. (Photo/Xinhua)

New opportunities through social media

In September 2022, Qin's son, Qin Yuanze, started sharing videos of his father's daily routine on social media. The unfiltered, authentic content quickly gained over 2 million followers, with many netizens supporting the farmers.

The live-streaming income was enough to keep the ferry running. Qin and Cao used the extra funds to provide free breakfasts for the elderly farmers. Many elderly passengers wake up at 3 a.m. to pick vegetables and fruits, then walk an hour to the ferry, leaving no time for breakfast. "I'll prepare breakfast for them to save time," Qin said.

Besides breakfasts, Qin and Cao bought unsold vegetables from farmers and donated them to welfare homes. They also rented a room near Xishan Pier for farmers to rest, equipped with heating for winter and air conditioning for summer.

During the voyage of the "Yuzhongke 2180" passenger ferry, Qin Yuanze (left), son of Qin Dayi, stands outside the cockpit to live stream, July 10, 2024. (Photo/Xinhua)

Inside the cabin of the "Yuzhongke 2180" passenger ferry, crew members distribute complimentary breakfast to farmers boarding the ferry on July 10, 2024. (Photo/Liu Chan, Xinhua)

Enhanced community support

Every morning, elderly passengers make themselves at home on the ferry, picking leeks, peeling peanuts, and chatting. Unlike the city's fast pace, time slows down on this boat.

When the ferry arrives at Xishan Pier, Qin helps the elderly passengers with their baskets, assisting them in selling their goods. Previously, vegetable farmers set up stalls on the stairs for convenience. To improve safety and serve farmers better, the local government built a temporary market near the pier, with a sunshade to protect sellers.

The local maritime department also created a separate route for this "water bus" outside the main Yangtze River waterway, with staff often escorting the ferry and maintaining the docks.

On the ramp of Xishan Pier in Zhongxian County, Chongqing, Qin Dayi (third from right) and his son Qin Yuanze (second from right) help elderly farmers transport baskets of vegetables on July 11, 2024. (Photo/Xinhua)

At the temporary sales area for farmers at Xishan Pier in Zhongxian County, Chongqing, Qin Dayi (second from left) helps farmers sell their vegetables on July 10, 2024. (Photo/Xinhua)

The "pack basket line" symbolizes community support and warmth, extending beyond Chongqing Rail Transit Line 4 to Yangtze River's Zhongxian section in Chongqing. Whether it's the innovative air-raid shelter market for the metro-riding farmers or the temporary trading market and the separate route for this "water bus," these services reflect deep care for the people in this heartwarming city.

(Ma Jiacheng, as an intern, also contributed to this article.)