Ways to Make Your Spring Festival Departure More Enjoyable, or at Least Easier

Many Beijingers are heading out of town even as your correspondent writes this. Here are some ways to make the annual human-wildebeest stampede known as Spring Festival travel at least easier, if not more pleasant.

Leave early for the airport or train station. Neither airports nor train stations are particularly interesting places to hang out, but they really suck when you stand at the gate that shows your flight or train as "departed." Getting to your jumping-off point should be relatively easy (more on that below), but once there, there are security lines, waiting lines, and what will seem like every other person in the city also waiting to board or to use the bathroom. Take whatever conservative departure time you think you need and add at least an hour to it. You will not regret this decision.

Bring your own food and drink. Again we repeat one of our golden rules of travel: don't trust transportation companies to feed you. Restaurants don't fly planes, and airlines and railway operators are not great at preparing food. During peak times like Spring Festival, lines can be long at restaurants and fast food outlets at Beijing's railway stations and airports. Here's a better bet: go to your favorite restaurant in Beijing, choose something that's portable (save that mapo doufu for when you get back), and take it with you, along with some fruit or a favorite snack. This should cover a meal and any potential delays along the way, and you will be much happier.

Be prepared to amuse yourself. Bring movies, TV shows, books, and magazines (preferably all on something highly portable like an iPad) for those moments when you aren't asleep, are unable to sleep, or otherwise need to occupy your mind with something. China's transport system is operating at maximum capacity during Spring Festival, making delays likely. Don't be stuck like the people in the middle seat who stare into space for hours because they didn't bring anything to do.

Charge all your devices. Your computer, phone, tablet, and back-up batteries are of no use if you don't charge them first. Before departure, charge everything, leave no device uncharged. That you might find an open plug at a departure gate is tempting fate; don't do it. Especially in Airplane Mode, devices use much less power and will last longer. Monitor your brightness and keep the Wi-Fi off if possible.

For all of you heading into the fray in the next few days, we wish you one road flat safe.

More stories by this author here.

Email: stevenschwankert@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @greatwriteshark
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Photo: Xinhua News Agency

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Bye or one road same direction wind (一路顺风)