Driverless minibuses in Guiyan function as mobile libraries

In Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province in southwestern China, a fleet of driverless minibuses operates in the Guanshanhu area. These vehicles are equipped with attractive QR codes and curated reading lists, marking a new form of public service.

Mobile Library Functionality

Passengers can scan QR codes to access an extensive collection of audiobooks. One passenger, Sun, who traveled from Xunyi with her child, noted that listening to audiobooks is ideal for travel, especially since her child cannot yet read many Chinese characters.

The minibuses offer AI-based reading recommendations, listening sections, and children's reading zones, allowing most passengers to find content that meets their needs. This initiative to create mobile libraries with a digital reading platform is a new development by the Guizhou Provincial Library.

Route and Target Audience

A driverless circular route, launched in a trial mode in April by PIX Moving in the Guanshanhu area, connects museums, libraries, business districts, and scenic spots. A one-way trip takes about twenty minutes.

Luo Jing, director of the library's digital and cultural services center, explained that passenger flow analysis showed that tourists and families with children constitute the largest share—precisely the target audience for the reading promotion campaign. She added that short city trips are perfect for listening to audiobooks, aligning with the library's digital platform.

Digital Resources and Development

The digital materials embedded in the driverless minibuses come from the Guizhou Digital Library, which is a brand of the Guizhou Provincial Library. This year, the library completely updated its mini-program, which includes one million e-books, one and a half million audiobook episodes, and 36 thousand free video lectures.

To adapt to the mobile format, the mini-program optimized sections for audiobooks, picture books, and recommended reading. It integrated local cultural features and built-in AI capable of summarizing book plots and automatically suggesting similar works with a single tap, thereby lowering the barrier for readers. The driverless minibuses are just one example of the library's broader efforts.

Expanding Reading Access

In recent years, the library has continued to integrate reading into various sectors of the province. Luo Jing reported that 'smart libraries' were built in 2025 in the ancient town of Pinyuan in Zhijin County, Bizhe City, and in the ancient town of Qingyan in Guiyang.

Currently, 45 digital rural libraries have been established in the province, and the use of QR codes has been extended to everyday locations, including rural libraries, bus routes, and airports. Incentives have also been introduced to encourage reading. Luo Jing emphasized that traditional libraries are limited by physical space and location, and many residents do not have time to visit them in person. The goal is to take reading outside the library and into people's daily lives.

She sees the combination of online and offline services as a key method for promoting reading. Previously, digital libraries focused mainly on academic resources, such as scientific articles and ancient texts, serving primarily teachers and researchers. The modern mini-program, conversely, is easy to use, offers rich audiovisual content, and suits readers of all ages. Luo Jing concluded that the driverless minibuses use technology to create a scenario beneficial for both cultural tourism and reading promotion, and joint projects for tours and integrating library services into various environments are being discussed.

uza.uzJuly 29, 10:27

The 'Dostlik' Festival in Nurafshon Became an Example of Friendship and Solidarity

In the city of Nurafshon, the regional stage of the 'Dostlik' festival was held at the Amphitheater to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the state sovereignty of the Republic of Uzbekistan and World Peoples' Day, observed on July 30. The event was organized under the motto: 'Unity of the nation, one people, we create a new life and future!'

Participation and Start of the Festival

Representatives from all cities and districts of Tashkent region, employees of national cultural centers, labor workers, youth, volunteers, artists, and the general public took part in the festival. The festival kicked off with the 'March of Sovereignty,' where representatives of national cultural centers and youth marched with state flags, glorifying the ideas of friendship, solidarity, and patriotism in the country.

Program and Cultural Interaction

As part of the festive program held at the Amphitheater, performances by national cultural centers featuring songs and dances, literary and artistic compositions, demonstrations of folk applied arts and crafts, and presentations of national cuisine were presented. The rich culture and traditions of representatives of various nations harmoniously combined on one stage, vividly demonstrating the atmosphere of interethnic harmony and hospitality in the country.

Awards and Additional Events

At the end of the event, winners were awarded in the nominations 'Best National Art Exhibition,' 'Best National Musical, Performing, and Dance Performance,' and 'Most Active National Cultural Center.' During the festival days, concerts of 'Harmony of Friendship,' creative performances involving national cultural centers, photo exhibitions 'View of Friendship,' creative meetings 'Brotherhood,' and exhibitions of samples of folk applied arts and crafts, as well as presentations of national cuisine, also took place in the city and districts, attracting great interest.

Work with Youth and Cultural Structures

Events held in children's summer camps named 'Friendship Begins in Childhood' contributed to strengthening feelings of patriotism, hospitality, and respect among peoples among the younger generation. Currently, there are 31 national cultural centers registered in Tashkent region. Nine of them function as regional institutions, while the rest operate as district and city branches. For the effective organization of the activities of national cultural centers in the city of Nurafshon, separate premises have been allocated in the 'NNT va Dostlik uyi' for the national cultural centers of Tajik, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, Azerbaijani, Korean, Uyghur, and Russian peoples to serve regional organizations.

iol.co.zaJuly 29, 10:02

Joburg Theatre Announces Cast for 2026 'Alice in Wonderland' Pantomime

Joburg Theatre has unveiled the cast for its festive production of 'Alice in Wonderland' in 2026. The show is scheduled to run from October 28th to December 24th.

Production Details and Plot

The production is based on Lewis Carroll's classic novel. The plot follows Alice as she enters Wonderland after following the White Rabbit down a rabbit hole, encountering characters such as the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the Caterpillar, and the Queen of Hearts.

Cast Members

Ashley Scott will play Alice, who previously appeared in productions of 'The Sound of Music,' Disney's 'Magic Box,' 'Chicago,' and 'Pretty Woman.' Desmond Dubbe returns for the eighth pantomime by Janice Honeyman, taking on the role of Nurse Fanny Flopflop. Russell Savadier is cast as the narrator, Lewis Carroll, and Brendan Van Reijn will portray the Queen of Hearts.

Supporting roles include Bongi Archie as the White Rabbit and Charlie Bugenon as the Mad Hatter. The ensemble also features Siyabonga Makakane (Cheshire Cat), Lesedi Rich (Caterpillar), and Danny Micker (Jack of Hearts), along with an ensemble of 16 performers.

Management Comments

Chief Executive Officer of Joburg Theatre, Xoliswa Ndunene-Ngeme, noted that this production celebrates individuality and imagination. She stated: 'This year's pantomime celebrates the boundless power of imagination, reminding audiences that every person is wonderfully unique.'

Ndunene-Ngeme added that Janice Honeyman's pantomimes have become a beloved holiday tradition for generations of South African families, and 'Alice in Wonderland' promises to be another unforgettable theatrical experience filled with laughter, heart, and spectacular entertainment.

Creator Vision and Team

Janice Honeyman emphasized that audiences can expect one of her most inventive works. She explained that Lewis Carroll created a world where anything is possible, which is what makes 'Alice in Wonderland' such a joyful stage production. According to her, 'beneath all the fun, humor, and madness lies a beautiful story about self-discovery and realizing you don't need to change to belong.'

The creative team includes Assistant Director Tim Le Roux, Musical Director Dale Ray, Choreographer Khaya Ndlovu, Costume Designer Mariska Meyer, Set Designer Andrew Timm, Sound Designer Ahonu Bozo, and Lighting Designer Johan Ferreira.

Ticket Information

Tickets are now on sale, and an early bird discount is available until August 31st. Additionally, school performances will be organized during the run of the show.

archdaily.com.brJuly 29, 06:00

Rangunia Residence: Contemporary Architecture Inspired by Rural Principles of Bangladesh

The Rangunia Residence is a project that revisits the concepts of space and sustainability present in the rural architecture of Bangladesh, presenting a modern residence adapted to climatic conditions, the surrounding environment, and daily routine.

Concept and location of the project

Located in the semi-urban area of Rangunia, in Chattogram, the house utilizes traditional local elements. However, these elements are not employed for nostalgic purposes, but rather as functional and practical solutions to respond to the specific characteristics of the location.