Experts estimate that over 300 million people will travel during the rush for the festival, which will take place on Feb. 8. (Photo : Getty Images)
Aside from the given troubles of culture shock and language barriers, foreigners find it hard to purchase rail tickets especially during the Spring Festival travel rush, according to a report by China Daily.
Experts estimate that over 300 million people will travel during the rush for the festival, which will take place on Feb. 8.
However, most railway stations in China don't cater to international travelers, thus the lack of English-language services, a staff member from the China Railway Corp. said. Even the company hotline, where the staff member was interviewed by China Daily, doesn't offer any English services.
"At the ticket window, you have to speak Chinese as there are no signs in English or staff members who can speak the language," said Milou Pol, a Dutch citizen who flew to China April last year, in an interview with China Daily.
As an alternative, Pol opts to purchase tickets and other travel essentials online, as most travel websites have English-language versions.
Robin Wordsworth, a Canadian who has been living in Beijing for the past three years as an organic food producer, also chooses to make travel arrangements online.
"Buying tickets in person is not the most convenient thing to do as most ticket sellers speak little or no English," said Wordsworth.
China's official online ticket reservation system, however, does not offer an English-language service as well. Limits are also established, with travelers only allowed to make four reservations online. For further bookings, one must take their passports to railway stations for identity checks.
As a means to solve the problem, China Railway Corp. advises international travelers to ask Chinese-speaking friends to accompany them during their travels. They can also ask their friends to buy tickets for them, or ask other buyers for help if no signs in English can be found.
If all else fails, perhaps the best way is to just avoid the travel rush.
"All tickets were sold out," said Nancy Gabriel, a 32-year-old American teacher whose attempts to buy tickets were all in vain. "This route is very popular around the Lunar New Year. My suggestion for international travelers would be to avoid the Spring Festival travel rush."
