Trains Carry Workers Home After Zero-COVID: China
After 3 years under the Zero-COVID Policy, movement restrictions in China have been removed, allowing migrant workers in major cities to travel home to visit their families. Train lines like the K-134 running from Shenzhen are now accessible, creating a rush of prospective passengers hoping to make it home in time for the Chinese New Year. Some have had their professions disrupted by the pandemic, while others have discovered new opportunities. All of them compete for a limited number of seats on the train, as we ride alongside the workers attempting the long trip home.
The K-134 local train connects Shenzhen and Zhengzhou
After the end of the Zero-COVID Policy, passengers board the train home from Shenzhen East Railway Station
Migrant workers fill the train seats
Many people sleep in the station, having been unable to purchase tickets