Download
Xu Yifeng, 29, works for a private company and travels frequently on business trips from Changsha, capital of Hunan province, to Beijing, preferring to take the high-speed G69 train over airplanes or other modes of transportation.
"I really appreciate the considerate service from the stewards on the train," Xu said, adding that she took the train for the first time in July.
She recalled that she rushed to catch the train, sweating in the hot summer. A young steward offered her water after departure.
"When I got to sleep, he covered me with a blanket to ward off the cool air from the air conditioner," she said. "I was impressed by their attentive service."
The leader of the team of male stewards - the first such team in northern China - Fan Jie, 35, said they will also remind sleeping passengers on the high-speed G69 to get off the train when it arrives at their destination between Beijing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province.
The six team members, all men in their 20s and standing about 1.8 meters tall, have learned a lot about service. They've even been known to mend clothes for passengers.
But it can be a challenge because passengers are accustomed to the voices of female attendants on trains, according to Yang Hongyu, leader of all high-speed train steward teams in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province.
When the passengers become impatient with delays, females seem to have an advantage in calming them down, Yang said, but the young men can handle them, too.
"These young men are also trained to deal with such situations, which require them to control their tempers," he said.
But stewards also have their own advantages: They are better suited to certain tasks, he said.
"It's easier for us to help the passengers with their large luggage and urge some passengers to stop violating rules on trains," said Wang Feng, a 25-year-old steward.
A high-speed train trip from Beijing to Guangzhou takes more than nine hours. According to the schedule, each of the six stewards is assigned to two to four carriages. Tasks include checking tickets, sorting luggage and other necessary services. Wang is responsible for serving passengers on four carriages.
"We will make rounds through the carriages every 15 minutes," Wang said, adding that he has to replace his socks after every trip "because they are worn out."
Fan, the team's leader, said stewards walk about 15 km in the course of service on a single trip, resulting in calloused feet. He added that they are seldom able to have their meals on time.
About the broadcaster:
Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is also fluent in Korean.
儿子兑现8岁承诺 送生日礼物惹老爸泪奔
1600只纸熊猫空降香港 卖萌呼吁环保
小仓鼠啃小小卷饼 可爱萌样爆红网络
看球需谨慎:男友们警惕妹子们的9句话!
伪球迷必看!英格兰队世界杯装腔指南
10分钟就能学会的25条生活小贴士(下)
世界杯十大富豪排行榜:C罗力压梅西
10个小细节 平凡的我们也能改变世界
富有创意的父亲节礼物:爸爸一定爱!
贾斯汀比伯为歧视黑人视频道歉
希拉里被曝曾臭骂特工:你给我滚远点
这十大简单事,其实复杂到让你困惑
运动帮助女孩建立信心
2017年世界杯:七大最“危险”球星
世界首个懂人类情感机器人问世
再不辞职就晚了:必须离职的两大前兆
奥巴马溜出白宫喝星巴克 戏称“熊跑了”
11岁华裔少女获谷歌涂鸦大赛总冠军
英国趣闻:狐狸排队取钱照片网络疯传
对工作挑剔的“90后”
文化和传承:十大著名商标背后的故事
聪明人离职后必做的5件事
日本必胜客推出棉花糖批萨
有其父必有其子?迈克尔·杰克逊子女生活奢侈随父亲
游遍世界:你从未听说的7个美国国家公园
中国式造谣
巴西设“世界杯假日” 国民不用请假看球
世界杯史上最佳阵容
外媒关注中国球迷:买假病假条看世界杯
美国女大学生毕业典礼当众哺乳引争议
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |