Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) During the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, on the Z5/6 international connecting train between Beijing, China and Hanoi (Gia Lam), Vietnam, Wang Lijun, a train police officer from the Nanning Railway Public Security Bureau, once again greeted a foreign passenger with a smile, using this familiar greeting.
This express train is not only a vital transportation artery for the Spring Festival travel rush, but also a mobile "mini-world." Inside the carriages are foreign tourists who have come specifically for the trip, international students speaking different accents, and business people traveling between China and Vietnam. Language barriers, unfamiliar environments, and cultural differences—these can all become invisible barriers during the journey.
Wang Lijun, a police officer with 19 years of experience, is well aware of this sense of distance. But his "weapon" is simple: a sincere smile, an old mobile phone with multilingual translation software, and a willingness to lend a helping hand.
On the eve of this year's Spring Festival travel rush, a Moroccan student boarded the Z6 train at Guilin North Station. Without a seat and carrying four large suitcases, he was at a loss in the crowded hard-seat carriage. Wang Lijun, during his rounds, noticed him and helped him properly arrange his heavy luggage. He also thoughtfully found an available charging socket for the student's dead phone and power bank, helping the student overcome his initial awkwardness and eventually smile and say "Thank you, Chinese policeman" in broken Chinese.
This scene is a microcosm of Wang Lijun's daily work. For passengers who don't speak Chinese, he takes out his phone and types out helpful tips on a translation app; for tourists who can speak some basic Chinese, he slows down his speech, reminding them to watch their luggage and watch their step, as if he were a family member.
In Wang Lijun's mind, the needs of every foreign passenger are "customized." When he encounters tourists visiting China for the first time, he'll casually introduce the local customs and culture of the cities along the way, bringing the scenery to life beforehand. For international connecting passengers needing to cross borders at night, he'll explain the security check and transfer procedures in advance, alleviating their anxiety about the unknown. And for foreigners working or studying in China, he prefers to be like a friend, listening to their stories of what they've seen and experienced.
He has summarized a set of experiences: many foreign passengers struggle with the luggage racks on the train not because they lack strength, but because they are unfamiliar with their structure. So, he patiently guides them through the luggage racks in their compartments and the storage spaces in the connecting areas between carriages, teaching them how to secure their luggage using ropes.
This year's Spring Festival travel rush is particularly busy, and Wang Lijun's "service plan" is even more meticulous. Seeing foreign passengers with children, he thoughtfully reminds them to keep an eye on their children and not let them run around in the carriages; seeing someone buying beer and having a drink, he'll say in a reassuring tone, "Drink less, the train is swaying, be careful." These simple words carry a warmth and humanity that transcends national borders.
During his journey, he formed a tacit "protective network" with the train attendants and dining car staff: when female passengers traveling alone encountered difficulties, he would ask female attendants to offer reminders and provide more thoughtful "silent protection"; he also established a volunteer group on the train, encouraging passengers to look after each other. Many foreign passengers, inspired by him, also joined in, helping to maintain order and acting as temporary translators. The train thus became a temporary, warm family.
Wang Lijun's honor roll records awards such as Outstanding Civil Servant and Third-Class Merit. But he feels that during the Spring Festival travel rush, the foreign passengers, initially reserved and wary, sincerely smiled and said "thank you" in various languages before disembarking—these are the most precious medals in his heart.
The Spring Festival train will eventually arrive at its destination, but the warmth and kindness carefully placed during the journey will be carried to every corner of the world by the footsteps of these international travelers. (End)
