Train travel in China is inevitably linked to the 12306 website or its mobile app. In the past, securing a ticket during the busy Spring Festival rush was a significant challenge, marked by long queues and a deep sense of longing and homesickness. The memory of endless lines at station squares during this period is a vivid and timeless experience for generations of Chinese travelers.
Today, 12306 stands as the world's largest passenger ticketing system, serving over 720 million users and facilitating the sale of over 4 billion tickets annually. China's railway ticketing has transitioned from manual to electronic methods, ushering in a "thumb era" of convenience and efficiency with innovations such as facial recognition for station access.
Shan Xinghua, a key figure in the R&D team of the Chinese Railway Passenger Ticketing System, has been instrumental in this transformation, spearheading significant technical innovations and earning acclaim as a "Model of the Times."
This book chronicles the evolution of Chinese train travel, reflecting on past challenges and current advancements. Exploring the history of China Railway's 12306 ticketing system reveals a journey filled with twists, dangers, mysteries, and surprises, uncovering the secrets behind its success.
Table of Contents
Preface The Secret to Success
Chapter 1 The Imprint of Time
The Evolution of Train Tickets
The Train Timetable
A Nostafgic Connection to Home
Chapter 2 The Awesome Innovation of the 12306 System
The World's Most Difficult System Architecture
The Disparity Between Ideals and Reality
A Smooth Network as the Highest Priority
Going Global and Braving New Waters
Chapter 3 The Threat of Ticket-Grabbing Apps
Who Stole My Ticket?
A Clash Without Commotion
The High Fence
A Giimmer of Hope from the Waiting List
Chapter 4 The Wisdom and Energy of Great Minds
Ma Junpei and His Students
Shan Xinghua and Her Stories
The Birds Flying High in the Sky
Thousands of Flowers that Make the Spring
Chapter 5 Data that Begins to Think
Big Data and the Passenger Ticketing System
The Art of Balancing
The Charm of User Profiling
The Promising Future of Big Data
Chapter 6 The Intelligent and Happy Travel
The Snazzy Station Entry via Facial Recognition
The Era of Paperless Passenger Tickets
The Monthly Pass
Traveling with Delicacies
Meeting the Expectations of Special Groups
Chapter 7 True Feelings in Beautiful Voices
One Call, Many Solutions
Easing Passengers' Worries
The Value of Big Data
The Grievances and Worries of Customer Service Staff
Epilogue The Model of the Times
Afterword How Did the Journey Begin?
