Foreign visitors embrace China's high-speed rail during holiday rush

As China's 40-day Spring Festival travel rush comes to an end Saturday, it is expected to set new records, with an estimated 510 million passenger trips made via the country's expansive railway system. Amid the travel boom, Australian teacher Canan Temel has experienced firsthand the convenience of China's high-speed rail, adding special meaning to her holiday season.

Before the Spring Festival, which fell on Jan 29 this year, Temel, who teaches English in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, took a bullet train from Nanchang to Jingdezhen to visit an old friend. The high-speed railway, which opened in December 2023 and travels at a speed of 350 km/h, has cut travel time between the two cities from more than two hours to less than 50 minutes.

"I only just found out that it's 40 minutes. If I had known earlier, I would have gone there earlier," she said, expressing her delight at the fast and convenient journey. She praised the high-speed train, saying, "The speed train is so fast, very clean, very convenient."

Temel's smooth journey was just one thread in the rich and colorful fabric of this year's Spring Festival. From Jan 28 to Feb 4, the holiday period saw a significant increase in inbound tourism. Since the Spring Festival was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, China has become an even more attractive destination for international travelers.

Travel platform data underscores this growth. During the holiday, inbound tourism bookings on Trip.com surged by 203 percent compared to the previous year. Similarly, Qunar reported a 70 percent increase in domestic flight bookings made with non-Chinese passports, highlighting the growing appeal of China as a travel destination during the Spring Festival.

During the holiday season, a significant number of international tourists opted for rail travel. Last month, a video showing a high-speed rail carriage crowded with foreign tourists went viral. These travelers, part of a tour group journeying from Beijing to Wuhan in Hubei province, appeared extremely comfortable and relaxed on the train. Netizens marveled in the comments that, judging by the passengers on board, it almost seemed as if one was not in China.

Thanks to high-speed rail running at 350 km/h, the journey from Beijing to Wuhan now takes less than four hours, providing a fast and convenient option for both domestic and international travelers.

In a bid to offer top-notch service to international visitors, railway staff have been making remarkable efforts. Recently, videos of two railway workers—one in Shanghai and the other in Xi'an, Shaanxi province—have gained widespread attention online. These employees, known for their lightning-fast typing and fluency in English, have impressed the public.

Take You Yuan, for example. She has worked at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station since 2010. Her proficiency in assisting foreign passengers with ticket purchases and changes has earned her widespread acclaim. You noted a significant shift in passenger demographics. Nowadays, one-third to two-thirds of their daily customers are international travelers, as most domestic passengers book tickets online. As a result, English proficiency has become a crucial skill for railway staff like her.

"We participate in regular training sessions and gain practical experience through real-life interactions with passengers. My aim is to communicate clearly with them and ensure smooth transactions," You said.

According to Shanghai railway authorities, with China extending its transit visa-free periods from 72 or 144 hours to 240 hours, the number of foreign passengers purchasing train tickets at Shanghai railway stations surged last year. The figure reached 1.6 million, a 200 percent increase compared to 2023, reflecting the growing influx of international travelers and the positive impact of the new policy.

Temel also welcomed the new 240-hour visa-free transit policy.

"The Chinese government has just implemented the new policy about 240-hour visa-free stays. It's great news because my son and my sister will come to visit me. They can stay here without a visa, so that's amazing," she said.

Thanks to faster transportation and the new policy, she said, "Tuanyuan (meaning reunion in Chinese) is much more meaningful, especially this year."

Liu Shupeng and Liu Qian in Nanchang of Jiangxi province, Zheng Zheng in Shanghai contributed to this story.