Booking a ticket like winning lottery

By Chen Zhiyong | China Daily | Updated: 2007-02-13 06:53

Fan Deliang, 25, a television editor, did not queue up at the railway station for hours. He bought a ticket through one of his college classmates, whose company booked tickets in advance. One month before Spring Festival, he already kept an eye on the ticket information.

One last goodbye, before the train attendant awaits the final signal to get onboard and lock the door at the Wuhan railway station in Central China's Hubei Province.Zhou Chao

Knowing it would be hard to get a train ticket this year, especially on the line to his hometown in East China's Fujian Province, he took early action. He called all his friends and classmates to ask for a ticket.

In Beijing, some organizations, such as government departments, can reserve train tickets. Fan said knowing someone who works at the railway department can also help book a ticket.

"You have to make an early arrangement and pull a few strings to get it done. The more social connections you have, the easier you can buy a train ticket," he said.

Fan admitted he was lucky this year. Some of his friends and classmates still do not have a ticket.

Fan even said buying a ticket by going to the booking agencies and railway stations was like hoping for first prize in a lottery.

If Fan could not book a ticket, he would probably go to the scalpers and try his luck. When even the scalpers fail, he would have to buy a plane ticket, which is generally two times the price of a train berth ticket.

"No matter how difficult it is to get a ticket or how expensive it might be, I would definitely go home to reunite with my family," said Fan. "I miss the dishes, families, friends and everything in the hometown."

(China Daily 02/13/2007 page20)