Source: Global Times

Spain's "El País" newspaper article on July 17, original title: "When traveling in China, you only need to master one language - QR code. The continuous development of China's railway system is not just about the increase in mileage. The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail (Beijing to Shanghai) has a speed exceeding 350 km/h: this railway connects two major focal points of domestic and international tourists, these two big cities show two aspects of the same country.

At the intermediate stops of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail, there are always train staff walking through the aisles with dozens of bags of food. These foods are not from the train's dining car, but takeout ordered by passengers through mobile phone applications during the journey. Takeout couriers or staff from restaurants near the station will deliver the orders to the corresponding high-speed train at the station where the train is about to stop. The delivery address marked by passengers in the takeout software is not a residential address, but the train number, carriage number and seat number of the train they are taking. This is just one of many examples of the great technological progress achieved in China's modernization and some regions.

"The biggest obstacle for Western tourists traveling to China is not language or culture, but technical barriers," said Javier Fernández, head of Spain's Horizon Travel Agency.

In China, QR codes are integrated into daily life, used for public transportation and payment in almost all stores. This has not happened in Western countries, but in China, the popularity of smartphones and the application of this encryption system have developed in parallel.

QR codes serve local residents: paying for goods, verifying identity, logging into social media, and accessing massive information. For foreign tourists traveling in China, some of these uses are also essential. For example, using the amazing maglev train requires it. It is the only maglev train in commercial operation, with a maximum speed of 431 km/h. It takes less than seven minutes to complete a 30-kilometer journey connecting Shanghai Pudong Airport with Longyang Road Metro Station in the city center.

Mobile phone applications with QR codes are also very useful for purchasing tickets to famous tourist attractions, such as the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall. During a two-week trip to China, QR codes will become a loyal companion.

Although an organized tour cannot solve all the technical challenges brought by the omnipresent QR codes in China, it can avoid many difficulties and allow you to better explore the endless historical details hidden in eastern China. (Author: Hector Lanois Martínez, translated by Li Xun Dian)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7529667674515751450/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking on the [up/down] buttons below.