The Rise of Rural Buffers in Hongyang

Fewer and fewer people live in the countryside, especially those of adult working age between 20 and 60 years old. Tickets range from 3 to 19 yen, depending on the distance, while gasoline costs 100 yen per trip. Zhang Rufe drives two 50 kilometer round trips each day between Wang Ma Tang's village and Qiedung Koche Station. He predicts that rural buses like his will die out in a few decades since most younger people can drive. The government may guarantee buses to the towns, but not villages.