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Eleven years ago, I took a train from Shanghai to Beijing during the Spring Festival rush, known as chunyun. I got a ticket in a hard-seat car, no other seats were available. As a result, I was squeezed into a space so small I could not turn left or right. And forget about going to the restroom; it was occupied by as many as eight passengers. During the 24-hour journey, I did not eat or drink anything - just to avoid going to the toilet. It was a trip to remember. Anyone who wants to understand China - of ordinary Chinese, not just those frequenting five-star hotels - should get on a hard-seat train during chunyun, at least once. For one thing, you will instantly realize why China has a family planning policy. I should add that my journey was not interrupted by snowstorms or delays. So, I can imagine what those millions of home-bound people stranded in trains, buses and railway stations are going through, both physically and mentally. After days of waiting at the Guangzhou Railway Station, reported Southern Metropolis News, passengers were finally allowed to board trains. However, they did not burst into joy, but tears. Even without the complications of bad weather, chunyun is a harrowing experience. The Lunar New Year is part of a tradition that makes us who we are as Chinese. Just as Chinese characters (logograms) are not ideal for computer input, this most important of Chinese holidays puts an incredible strain on the nation's transport network. | 
