[Kaohsiung News] As part of the 2025 Kaohsiung Wonderland, the city’s Transportation Bureau has introduced two Chiikawa-themed buses on 50 Wufu Main Line, along with a new feature in the iBus+ app that lets users track their real-time locations. Fans are encouraged to download the app and hop on a Chiikawa bus for a fun-filled ride to the event site.
Jhang Shu-Jyuan, Director-General of the Transportation Bureau, noted that during the development phase of the iBus+ app, diverse user needs were taken into account, leading to the implementation of several key features. These include enhanced travel planning, arrival reminders, and favorite location management. Additionally, an “accessibility-friendly mode” was introduced, offering voice announcements and low-floor bus information. In January 2025, MRT and Circular Light Rail tracking functions were added to further improve the app’s usability. To align with the 2025 Kaohsiung Wonderland, the app now features a Chiikawa bus tracking function, allowing users to follow the Chiikawa bus in real time along the Wufu Main Line.
Beyond optimizing travel planning and improving the legibility of display fonts, in response to public demand, the latest update integrates real-time MRT and Circular Light Rail tracking, enabling users to check train arrival times and corresponding travel durations at various stations, making the iBus+ app an even more valuable travel companion. Since its launch last year, Kaohsiung’s iBus+ app has already received international recognition, winning the Red Dot Design Award (Germany), the Good Design Award (Japan), and securing a UX Design Awards 2025 nomination. The app will continue to be refined based on user feedback, with ongoing improvements to the interface, smart features, and overall user-friendliness, ensuring an even more intuitive and seamless experience.
The Transportation Bureau emphasizes that during the 2025 Kaohsiung Wonderland event period from January 25 to February 16, 2025, residents and visitors can easily track the Chiikawa-themed buses in real time by simply downloading and using the Kaohsiung iBus+ app. With just a few taps, users can follow the route of the Chiikawa buses and fully immerse themselves in the excitement of this popular character. For more details on transportation and festival-related updates, visit the Kaohsiung Travel website (https://khh.travel/zh-tw/) or follow the Kaohsiung City Transportation Bureau's official Facebook page!
