During China’s Spring Festival travel rush, passengers are separated across entrances, security checks, waiting zones and boarding gates. In 2026 Shanghai Station expanded gates and scanners at its South Entrance, and a government photo caption documented passengers queuing at entry and security checkpoints. Beijing West has likewise used a temporary waiting area with identity checks, screening and guidance displays.
Instead of treating one enormous crowd as a single line, the station breaks the journey into smaller ordered stages. Passengers share the desire to go home, while the railway releases them gradually through zones and gates.