A self-service bicycle rental system is being planned and designed for visitors to tour around Xi'an Daming Palace National Heritage Park.

Eight bicycle rental stations will be set up at transportation hubs and major visiting areas. The type of bicycle, the specific location and the management of the station remain to be discussed.

At present, big cities like Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai have carried out bicycle rental projects to improve their environments. The Daming Palace bicycle rental system will emulate them, managing all the rental bicycles and providing better services for visitors. Patrons will pay according to an automatic time calculator.

According to the report, a self-service bicycle rental system is a way to promote a low-carbon life. The Xi'an Daming Palace National Heritage Park will use the system in the hope to spread the idea of low-carbon life and furthermore, to promote Xi'an's image as an international cultural tourism city.

By Li Cheng & Wu Wei