Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news

It is always a headache for drivers to find a parking space, especially in the city's downtown. However, as of 9:00 this morning, you can find the nearest one by just making a call, today's Laodong Daily reported.
Drivers dialing the 96520 hotline will be told which parking lots are available near to their destinations, how much the fees are and also the best route to take to arrive within only one minute.
Shanghai has launched the public information system on a trial basis.
In October this year, the second phase of the trial system will begin, allowing drivers to book parking space not only by phone, but also online (www.sh96520.com) and by text message.
Besides shortages of parking space, being ill-informed about parking possibilities has caused headaches for drivers, said an industry analyst. Establishing such a system can make the parking service more open and transparent, he pointed out.
The trial operation will cover 3,242 spaces at 53 public parking lots in Huangpu, Jing'an, Luwan and Xuhui Districts. By the end of the year, 30 percent of the parking lots in the city center will be covered by the system. In the future, citizens will also be able to access information about other auto-related matters such as maintenance and insurance consulting services.