Nanjing Railway Station

The high-speed railway station in Nanjing is massive, a testament to China’s infrastructure ambitions. Everything about it feels grand, from the sprawling halls to the endless platforms. While all the signage around the station is bilingual, with English translations thoughtfully included, the ticketing system seems stuck in a monolingual bubble. The ticket counters, displays, and vending machines are entirely in Chinese, leaving non-Chinese speakers scratching their heads. It’s the same in Shanghai, so it’s clearly intentional—but why? Perhaps it’s assumed most international travelers use apps or third-party services for tickets, but it’s still a puzzling oversight in otherwise well-planned facilities.