Chunyun tests gov't ability to administer

Opinion / Liu Shinan

 Chunyun tests gov't ability to administer
By Liu Shinan (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-01-18 06:24

"Chunyun" has become a very special word in the modern Chinese
vocabulary. The word, literally meaning "spring transportation," has many
implications. For people that work away from their hometown, it refers to
the happiness of reuniting with loved ones and the bitterness of battling
for a train ticket; for railway staff it represents 40 days of arduous
work; for scalpers it suggests a busy season of business; for the police
it implies a war against theft and luggage containing inflammable
materials; for the government it is a test of administrative ability.

Every year around Spring Festival, hundreds of millions of Chinese travel
from afar to return to their hometowns for the most important family
reunion of the year. No matter how the national economy surges or
lumbers, how the renminbi appreciates or depreciates, how the global
climate warms or cools, how avian influenza bites or mutates, the Chinese
will go home before the end of the lunar New Year.

The scene of the whole family sitting around the dinner table and
toasting amid the steam of savoury dishes and the smoke of firecrackers
is what Chinese most look forward to at this time of the year.

Therefore, a phenomenon that is rare in the rest of the world occurs
annually in China: hundreds of millions of travellers try to cram
themselves into trains, buses, planes and ships during the few days
before and after the Spring Festival. That is the so-called "chunyun."

The Ministry of Railways estimates that 144 million passengers will take
trains during this year's "chunyun" period. Such a sudden surge in the
number of travellers would beat any means of transportation but the
disparity between demand and capacity is especially acute with the
railway system as it is the only means for the large bulk of
long-distance passengers.

The problem has plagued the railway system for many years and authorities
have adopted various measures to alleviate the pressure. The situation
has improved a lot in recent years but it is still difficult to secure a
ticket for year-end travelling. An average 3.6 million passengers will
travel by train each day during the "chunyun" period and it could be as
many as 4.3 million but the railway system's average daily capacity is
only 2.8 million.

The crux of the matter is the shortage of railway lines. The total length
of railways across the country is 75,200 kilometres. That translates to
the length of a cigarette for each Chinese. A vice-minister of railways
predicted a few days ago that the situation could change by 2010, the end
of the 11th Five-Year Plan period. This is too remote a promise. Before
China's railway lines extend significantly, we have to put up with the
situation where three people contend for two tickets.

As a member of the large army of Spring Festival travellers, I would not
complain if I became that unlucky one among the three, for I understand
that building railway lines needs time and large amounts of money. But I
do resent the difficulties involved in the process of obtaining a ticket.

First, you dial the number of the railway information office but you will
never get connected. Then you go to a booking outlet but will be told
that booking won't start until four days before the departure. You have
learned from the media, however, that booking during the Spring Festival
period can be made 10 days in advance. Then when you go to the booking
office four days in advance, you will be told the tickets are sold out
because "the selling began yesterday evening." Finally you end up buying
a double, or even triple-priced ticket from a scalper if you don't have
the courage (and time) to queue for 12 or 24 or 48 hours at the railway
station.

I did not make up those scenarios. They were told to me by friends and
relatives and other media outlets.

I believe that most travellers would not complain about the shortage of
train tickets but would surely resent the poor service with regard to
information publicity, the rampant piracy of scalpers and the (much
reported) corruption of some railway staff members.

The authorities can play a better role in this regard. "Chunyun" is
actually a test of the government's ability to administer society.

Email: liushinan@chinadaily.com

(China Daily 01/18/2006 page4)

Hot Talks

 President's List of Do's and Don'ts for China

 How important is 'Face' (Mian Zi) to everyone?

 The Woeful Health of the Nation

 China, USA should be natural allies

 Beijing's leverage over Taiwan

Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours

20071124 http://www.hellomandarin.net