Bare necessities for Train Travel; On Monday, the railways in China transported 3.8 million people. But more are expected to be travelling on Friday, making the journey somewhat uncomfortable.

Toilet Training; About 120 million peasants from China's vast rural areas swarm the cities for work and all try to make it home for the Lunar New Year holiday, filling all standing room on trains and making access to the toilet impossible during trips often lasting 24 hours or more.

During the same peak travel period last year, some passengers became deranged because they couldn't get to the toilets and jumped out of the carriages.

This week, sales of adult diapers has boomed.