STORY: Faces of China: Young railway inspector's Spring Festival travel rush
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Jan. 22, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:22
LOCATION: HOHHOT, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the railway inspector
2. various of trains
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WEI ZHENGQIAN, Technician
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG LIWEN, Technician
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): WEI ZHENGQIAN, Technician

STORYLINE:

Wei Zhengqian, 23, is a freight train inspector in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

He is working to ensure the safe operation of China-Europe freight trains amid the Spring Festival travel rush which began on Jan. 14.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WEI ZHENGQIAN, Technician
"In August 2023, I graduated from university and worked in Erenhot, a northern border city of China. Currently, I work as a freight train inspector responsible for ensuring the safe operation of freight trains on the railway and their smooth arrival at their destinations."

Under the guidance of his mentor, Wang Liwen, Wei has made significant progress in just one year. 

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG LIWEN, Technician
Spending this past year with Xiao Wei, I've watched him grow little by little. I hope he continues to work diligently and, with this perseverance, goes further and more steadily in his career. 

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): WEI ZHENGQIAN, Technician
"During the Spring Festival travel rush, the number of freight trains increases, placing great responsibility on us as freight train inspectors. We inspect over 1,200 trains daily, working nonstop from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., then from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next day. In freezing temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius, we walk about 45,000 steps per shift to ensure the safe operation of the railway.
I believe this experience will help me learn even more, enhance my skills, and grow into an outstanding railway professional."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hohhot, China.
(XHTV)