As China’s monumental Spring Festival travel period commences, a dedicated team of young technicians at Chongqing West EMU Depot stands at the forefront of transportation safety. These skilled mechanics, including 26-year-old Shi Gaohua, have intensified their maintenance protocols to ensure the seamless operation of China’s high-speed rail network during the world’s largest annual human migration.
The 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, spanning from February 1st to March 13th (a 40-day period), anticipates transporting hundreds of millions of passengers returning to their hometowns for family reunions. At the heart of this operation, the maintenance crew works meticulously through night shifts, conducting comprehensive inspections on bullet trains’ critical systems including braking mechanisms, electrical components, and structural integrity.
Shi Gaohua, representing the new generation of railway professionals, exemplifies the technical expertise required for maintaining China’s advanced rail infrastructure. ‘Every bolt, every circuit matters when millions of families are counting on us for safe journeys,’ Shi remarked during a recent overnight shift. His team employs specialized diagnostic equipment and follows rigorous checklists to identify potential issues before they escalate.
The Chongqing West Depot, serving as a crucial maintenance hub in southwestern China, has implemented extended work schedules and enhanced quality control measures to handle the increased operational demands. These young technicians, many fresh from specialized railway academies, combine digital monitoring systems with hands-on mechanical expertise to maintain the world’s largest high-speed rail network operating at peak efficiency during this critical travel period.
China’s railway system expects to handle approximately 480 million passenger trips during this year’s Spring Festival migration, with high-speed trains accounting for over 70% of total railway transportation. The work of these maintenance crews remains largely unseen by travelers but forms the essential foundation enabling the massive seasonal migration that defines Chinese cultural traditions.