Beijing will operate 28 special bus routes for the Paralympic Games' opening ceremony on Saturday.

The temporary buses will depart from the Beijing South Railway Station, the Beijing Zoo and Sihui, among other terminals, to the Olympic Green, the city's Public Transport Group announced on Friday.

Passengers who hold tickets for the ceremony or valid cards identifying themselves as workers or volunteers for the occasion can ride for free, the group said.

"Green channels" will be opened for the elderly, children, pregnant women and the disabled at the 68 stops along the routes, where they will board first with the assistance of volunteers.

The buses will run until all audience members have left the ceremony, according to the group.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2008)