Steady hand at the bus wheel draws visitors

Short videos documenting the daily life of a bus driver have gone viral online, turning the G222 bus route into a special attraction in Changchun, the capital of Jilin province. Many tourists from outside the city arrive specifically for a ride along this route, hoping to meet the ever-smiling driver Hu Wenxue in the viral video, known online by her nickname "Little Axue".

The 32-year-old has been a steady presence at the wheel for more than five years. With a natural aptitude for machinery and vehicles, she chose to major in automotive manufacturing and assembly technology at Jilin Tiedao University in 2013. With her qualifications, Hu could have entered a factory of her choosing to work in a technical job related to her field of study, but a childhood dream guided her down a different path.

"When I was a middle-school student, I loved sitting in the front row on the bus, watching the driver shift gears, steer, and smoothly dock the vehicle at stops, carrying passengers to various places," she said. "Back then, I thought driving a bus was really cool."

After graduating from university in June 2016, Hu immediately applied for an A3 driver's license and successfully obtained it in March 2017. In December 2020, she began on-road practical training and was assigned to the G222 route team of Changchun Bus Group's Nantong Bus Company, under the guidance of bus team mentors for on-the-job training.

After comprehensive assessments from operations, safety, and human resources departments, she officially started working independently on Feb 1, 2021, dedicating her youth to the 10-meter-long bus.

From then on, she began earnestly documenting her daily work routine through short videos she posted on social media platforms. The camera mostly captured ordinary work moments in the driver's cabin. "Initially, I simply wanted to document my daily work routine," she said. "My videos didn't attract much attention."

However, in May 2023, a passenger casually filmed her warmly welcoming passengers at a stop and posted it online, which garnered 8.13 million views and 168,000 likes.

Overnight, the ordinary female bus driver became a well-known figure online. Since then, she has continued to update her daily bus vlogs, with one video receiving more than 4 million views. "Now, I have 56,000 followers on Douyin, and also have accounts on Kuaishou and WeChat Video, with over 10,000 followers on each platform," she said. "I hope to use short videos to bridge the gap with passengers and show the public the real bus industry."

Behind the lens is the little-known hard work of a bus driver. Hu wakes up every day at 4 am, arriving at the company's bus depot before 5 am.

"A bus driver's work involves more than just holding the steering wheel," she said. "The complete process is cumbersome and rigorous — meticulously checking the vehicle's condition before departure, completing alcohol and blood pressure tests, and signing in for confirmation."

After reaching the terminal, she uses the limited break time to clean the bus and pick up passengers' forgotten belongings.

Boarding Hu's bus, passengers can see many delicate and cute ornaments in the driver's cabin, with warmth exuding from the dashboard and around the doors.

"All these decorations were purchased at my own expense and arranged during my rest time," she said. "These small items make me feel happy, and I hope to pass on this simple joy to every passenger."

Hu has also encountered unexpected situations over the years of service.

While driving shortly after she started work, the vehicle broke down. Despite having practiced many times before, she still felt nervous when facing the problem for real. "What warmed my heart was that a colleague passing by immediately came to help, resolving the issue in just two minutes," she said. "Furthermore, seeing passengers board with smiles and arrive safely at their stops fills me with a strong sense of professional accomplishment."

Despite her sudden rise to popularity, Hu remained humble, carrying out her driving duties on schedule, rigorously completing each operation task, and using only fragmented rest time to update short videos.

"Many tourists take the bus specifically to record and commemorate the moment with photos and videos, but they fully understand the importance of driving safety and never interfere with the bus' operation," she said. "I have to be stricter with myself as I am receiving more attention, adhering to higher standards for each trip to ensure the safety of all passengers."

Netizens often ask about travel routes and bus transfer information in the comments section, and Hu patiently responds to each one.

"I hope to break the public's stereotypes about the bus industry, attracting more young people to understand this profession and encouraging them to join the ranks of bus drivers, injecting youthful energy into urban public transportation," she said. "I also hope to use short video platforms to let more people see the real working state of bus drivers and witness the vibrant city of Changchun."