Guangzhou, which currently has the largest number of exclusively LPG-powered buses in the world, will complete the conversion of all the city's buses and taxis to LPG by the end of the year.

To-date, 5,800 or 74 percent of public buses and 10,453 or 70 percent of taxis in Guangzhou have been converted to LPG and tests show that 98 percent of existing public buses now meet acceptable emission standards, producing minimal exhaust fumes.

In 2003, in effort to reduce atmospheric pollution by vehicular emissions, Guangzhou instituted a program to convert the city's 16,000 taxis and 7,000 buses to clean and environmentally-friendly LPG. The municipal government also earmarked funds of RMB 124 million from its budget to subsidize affected transport operators from 2004 to 2007.

Since May last year, local public transport operators have spent more than RMB 3.4 million to renovate buses in order to meet environmental safety standards and to provide passengers with a more comfortable ride.

Editor: Yan