A foreign passenger consults with a staff member at the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station information desk. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]
For foreign visitors entering China via Shanghai, the high-speed rail network has become a convenient and efficient way to explore the country.
During this year’s Spring Festival travel rush, which began on Jan 14, Shanghai’s railway stations have witnessed a surge in foreign passenger traffic.
As of Jan 24, the city’s railway stations had already served 44,639 foreign passengers, more than triple the number recorded during the same period last year.
This includes passengers departing from Shanghai’s four major stations — Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai South Railway Station, Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, and Shanghai Songjiang Railway Station — as well as six smaller stations.
The efficient high-speed railway allows foreign travelers to visit multiple cities in just a few days.
On social media, foreign tourists have shared their excitement about China’s high-speed trains, praising their speed and comfort, while also expressing amazement at the grandeur of the railway stations.
Many have highlighted how easy it is to travel to different cities from Shanghai, with destinations like Suzhou and Hangzhou just a short train ride away. Even farther cities like Chongqing can be reached within hours, making it an ideal way to discover the country in a short time.
For the first time in the history of the Spring Festival travel rush, Shanghai’s four major stations are operating around the clock, with a record number of “red-eye” overnight high-speed trains added to meet demand.
From midnight to 5 am on Jan 25, a record 110 overnight temporary trains departed from Shanghai’s stations, transporting over 90,000 passengers.
On the same day, Shanghai’s railway stations set a new milestone, with 786,600 passengers departing — an all-time high that surpassed the previous record of 672,000 passengers on Oct 1, 2024.
In the wider Yangtze River Delta region, the rail network continues to set new records. A total of 3.1 million passengers departed on Jan 25, marking the fourth record-breaking day in less than 10 days.
Source: Shanghai Observer
,https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20250126/1cb7d2df7e10454ea11adfcc7a4a134a.html