The Chinese and Their Train Journeys

China’s rail industry has made much headway thanks to rapid development over the past decades. The progress made, particularly in high-speed rail, in recent years has caught the attention of the whole world. On the morning of November 25, 2015, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang invited state leaders attending the Fourth Summit of China and the CEEC (Central and Eastern European Countries) to experience a ride on a Chinese high-speed train.

In the 1990s, people struggled onto crowded trains. Rail travel was not a pleasant experience. Today, passengers simply swipe their ID cards on entering the station and have a range of pricing and comfort options for their train journey.

In 2013, passengers in business class travel in comfort on a high-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai.

In 1994, passengers traveling to their hometowns for the Spring Festival struggle to board the train at Harbin Railway Station.

In 1995, some people attempt to board the train through a window at Lanzhou Railway Station.

In 1991, having purchased standing tickets only, a family traveling from Shanghai to Chongqing make themselves“comfortable” in the train corridor.

Since 2015, visually impaired passengers have been allowed to travel with guide dogs on the high-speed train from Beidaihe to Beijing.

In 2015, it became a fashionable choice for newly-weds to start their honeymoons by high-speed train. This photo was taken at Beijing South Railway Station.

In the 1980s and 1990s, televisions were rare. Passengers could watch TV only in certain carriages. There were few entertainment choices on board. Today, passengers have in-journey entertainment at their seats.

In the 1990s, people could make phone calls on the trains. The smart phone has now entered everyone’s life, achieving communication everywhere and any time.

Passengers play mahjong on a train from Beijing to Shenyang in 1994.

In 1986, the T18 express train from Harbin to Beijing debuted in-voyage entertainment. Passengers are transfixed by the television screen.

In 1999, people use IC cards to use the train’s telephone service from Beijing to Harbin.

Passengers traveling by train in 1989 bring personal stereos to play music. Here, a group is making the long journey from Beijing to Guangzhou.

In 1997, a train attendant advertises the “TV carriage”on a train from Mudanjiang to Changting.

In 2014, passengers were no longer restricted to the entertainment programs provided on train services as they could download whatever they wanted to watch during the journey on their smartphones. This picture was taken on a train from Chongqing to Beijing.

In 2013, a passenger in business class watches TV from the comfort of her seat.

Photos by Wang Fuchun