Bullet train maintenance worker safeguards Spring Festival travel rush

TIANJIN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Several EMU trains are neatly lined up for "health checkups" inside a maintenance depot in Tianjin on the night of Feb. 1, right before the start of the Spring Festival travel rush, the annual homeward journey in China, and also the world's largest human migration.

To ensure safe and punctual departure of these trains, Li Qiwei, leader of a maintenance team, had to work overnight with more than 40 colleagues to perform full-body examination for 28 sets of EMUs -- a workload about 20 percent higher than that of a normal workday.

Li has been working at the maintenance depot after he graduated with a degree in vehicle engineering from Dalian Jiaotong University. Eight years of diligence saw him rising from green hands to a competent group leader. He said he felt very lucky to be able to contribute to the safety operation of the bullet trains, which help reunite millions of people with their families during the Spring Festival travel rush.

Li Qiwei communicates with his colleagues via walkie-talkie at an electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance depot in north China's Tianjin Municipality, on Feb. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Li Qiwei works at an electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance depot in north China's Tianjin Municipality, on Feb. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Li Qiwei works at an electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance depot in north China's Tianjin Municipality, on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Li Qiwei works at an electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance depot in north China's Tianjin Municipality, on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Li Qiwei checks the wiper blades of the train at an electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance depot in north China's Tianjin Municipality, on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Li Qiwei (L) collects maintenance tools at an electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance depot in north China's Tianjin Municipality, on Feb. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Li Qiwei collects maintenance tools at an electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance depot in north China's Tianjin Municipality, on Feb. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Li Qiwei works at an electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance depot in north China's Tianjin Municipality, on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Li Qiwei (L) works with his colleagues at an electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance depot in north China's Tianjin Municipality, on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Li Qiwei works at an electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance depot in north China's Tianjin Municipality, on Feb. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Li Qiwei (R) checks the monitoring screen with his colleague at an electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance depot in north China's Tianjin Municipality, on Feb. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Li Qiwei works at an electric multiple unit (EMU) maintenance depot in north China's Tianjin Municipality, on Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)