A Beijinger's different working track
Beijing resident Chen Minghui commutes on a Beijing-Tianjin bullet train to work on Feb 20, 2017. [Photo/VCG] |
"Dear passengers, our short journey is about to end, ..." the train radio is streaming. This is Beijing resident Chen Minghui's typical Monday morning, commuting on a Beijing-Tianjin bullet train to work on Feb 20, 2017. But unlike so many others headed from Tianjin to Beijing, his is the other way around.
Some Beijingers may like to live in ease and comfort in Beijing, but not 28-year-old Chen. He wants to do something.
Chen accepted a marketing job offer in Tianjin last June. This is his eighth month as a Beijing-Tianjin commuter. "At least Tianjin, unlike Beijing, is not too congested, since I have to frequently drive here and there every day," replied Chen, when asked about the advantages of working in Tianjin.
It only takes about an hour for Chen to go from his home in Beijing to his office in Tianjin, which is less than the time it took him to reach office during his previous job in Beijing. Now, he takes the high-speed train every Monday, stays in Tianjin for the week and goes back to Beijing on Friday.
There are expectations that the Beijing-Tianjin bullet train may launch a monthly pass system. Chen is looking forward to it as then he could go home and see his three-year-old daughter every single day.