STORY: Faces of China: Dedicated railway maintenance workers amid Spring Festival travel rush
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Feb. 3, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:23
LOCATION: SHIJIAZHUANG, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Langfang EMU Depot
2. various of Wang Haobai
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): WANG HAOBAI, Foreman of the maintenance team at Langfang EMU Depot
4. various of Langfang EMU Depot

STORYLINE:

The Chinese New Year is an occasion for family reunions with millions traveling during the Spring Festival rush. Behind this massive movement of passengers are the dedicated maintenance workers who stick to their posts during the holiday. 
Wang Haobai, the foreman of the maintenance team at Langfang EMU (electric multiple unit) Depot in north China's Hebei Province, is one of these unsung heroes.

For 31-year-old Wang, conducting late-night "health checks" for high-speed trains has become routine.

This year's task is particularly challenging as the newly-opened depot is experiencing its first Spring Festival travel rush. However, years of rigorous training and hands-on experience have ensured Wang and his team handle the challenge with confidence and precision.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): WANG HAOBAI, Foreman of the maintenance team at Langfang EMU Depot
"Day after day, we repeat the same tasks, meticulously handling every duty, including tightening every screw and bolt on the train. We have maintained great enthusiasm for work to ensure the safe operation of the trains and guarantee that every passenger can arrive home safely."

A record-breaking 9 billion trips are expected to be made during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush in 2025 that will end on Feb. 22.

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