Witnessing the changes in Shanghai and Hong Kong over the past 27 years, the Shanghai-Hong Kong train on New Year’s Eve has a strong sense of the year

On February 9, mobile China slowed down, and most travelers had already arrived home to prepare for family dinners on New Year’s Eve. However, Li Zhe, conductor of the Shanghai-Hong Kong fleet on the Shanghai passenger section of the railway, still has to stand guard for the last time. The day before, she had just taken the Z99 train to take passengers to Guangzhou. On the same day, she had to accompany the Z100 train passengers back to Shanghai from Guangzhou.

Train Z99/100 also has a more affectionate name, which is the Shanghai-Hong Kong train.

On May 19, 1997, the Shanghai-Hong Kong train was officially opened, with train number K99/100. There was finally a railway passage from the "Pearl of the Orient" to the "Pearl of the Orient", and the whole journey took about 29 hours.

That year, Li Zhe had just graduated and entered the Shanghai passenger section of the railway. After completing English, Cantonese and other skills training, she became the first batch of Shanghai-Hong Kong train conductors.

Since then, she has stayed on the Shanghai-Hong Kong train on New Year's Eve for 27 consecutive years. Sometimes because she had to stay overnight, she could only celebrate the New Year on the train with her colleagues on New Year's Eve.

On the first Shanghai-Hong Kong train, Li Zhe was serving meals to passengers.

Before the train arrived at the terminal, Shanghai Station, Li Zhe once again inspected the entire train. He walked back and forth from Car No. 2 to Car No. 19, which required 2,000 steps and took about half an hour. She has walked this journey countless times, and even walking with her eyes closed she can tell which car number she is in.

There were not many passengers on the bus that day, mainly family travelers with children, who were preparing to welcome the New Year in Shanghai with their families.

Li Zhe wished passengers a Happy New Year in advance and reminded them to take their luggage with them when they get off the bus.

In the past, on New Year's Eve, there were still many tourists rushing home. Nowadays, there are many tourists traveling. Li Zhe couldn't help feeling that the tradition of returning home during the New Year has also undergone many new changes.

Over the past 27 years, Li Zhe has witnessed too many changes on this Shanghai-Hong Kong train. There are changes in passengers, changes in the railway itself, and also huge changes in the economic development of Shanghai and Hong Kong.

In 1997, Hong Kong's GDP was 1.37 trillion yuan, about four times that of Shanghai at that time. At that time, cock boxes and mobile phones were rare items in mainland China, but they were often seen on Shanghai-Hong Kong trains. These were almost standard travel features for Hong Kong business people who came to do business in the mainland.

Li Zhe remembers that when the first train departed from Shanghai for Hong Kong, all the seats on the train were almost full. In addition to business people, there were also many elderly people holding "return permits".

“At that time, travelers visiting relatives in Hong Kong often brought vegetables such as malan tau, bean sprouts, and hairy crabs because the prices of vegetables and hairy crabs were high in Hong Kong. At that time, many vegetables could be seen stalled at the connection between train carriages. And Returning tourists would bring foreign brands of cosmetics, CD players, cameras, etc., because these items were tax-free in Hong Kong and were relatively scarce in the mainland at that time," Li Zhe said.

The cultural differences are also very obvious. At that time, passengers from Hong Kong would tip the flight attendants. During the Spring Festival, they would also give out red envelopes with 5 and 10 Hong Kong dollars in them.

"Although the amount was not large, we all declined politely and would hand it over even if we accepted it," Li Zhe recalled.

However, gradually, these phenomena disappeared. In 2023, Shanghai's GDP has reached 4.72 trillion yuan, significantly surpassing Hong Kong. Nowadays, the "return permit" has become a "passport". It is very convenient for tourists to enter and exit Hong Kong, and they always travel lightly. The luggage compartments that were once added and filled every time have gradually faded out of history.

The changes in the railway also seem to be separated by generations, but behind the changes, there is more inheritance. Li Zhe introduced that the earliest Shanghai-Hong Kong trains were painted in blue and white. They were one of the most "luxury" trains in the country at that time and were also equipped with unique public telephones. Later, the trains were painted green and became "green trains." However, the configuration and services of Shanghai-Hong Kong trains have always maintained high standards, setting a benchmark for railway services.

In April 2007, the national railways implemented the sixth major speed increase, and the number of Shanghai-Hong Kong trains became T99/100. In December 2014, the Shanghai-Hong Kong trains were upgraded again, and the number of trains became Z99/100.

After two upgrades, the running time of Shanghai-Hong Kong trains was shortened from the initial 29 hours to about 19 hours.

After the outbreak, the Z99/100 train was suspended for a time. Although the train has resumed operation, the operation of the Guangzhou-Hong Kong section has not yet resumed. However, the Shanghai-Hong Kong train has a new "successor" - the Shanghai-Hong Kong high-speed rail G99/100 train.

On September 23, 2018, with the opening of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen High-speed Railway, the G99 train, which originally started from Shanghai Hongqiao Station and ended at Guangzhou South, was extended to Hong Kong West Kowloon via the Guangzhou-Shenzhen High-speed Railway. The full running time 8 hours and 17 minutes. The return journey also departs from West Kowloon, Hong Kong and returns to Shanghai Hongqiao.

Since then, from the "Pearl of the Orient" to the "Pearl of the Orient", we have entered the era of high-speed rail.

The G99/100 train was also suspended due to the epidemic, but it will resume operation from April 1, 2023.

On New Year's Eve, when the train arrived in Shanghai, Li Zhe sent off the passengers while inspecting the entire train again to check whether there were any passengers' lost items on the train.

The trains on New Year's Eve have been specially decorated to give them a strong New Year flavor.

This New Year's Eve, she can rush home to be with her family. Of course, her colleagues will continue to work on train Z99, eating New Year’s Eve dinner on the train and sending Spring Festival couplets and New Year blessings to passengers.

At the same time, the G99 train took over the mantle and also set off on New Year's Eve, connecting new memories of Shanghai and Hong Kong.