A motley group of baton-wielding People's Armed Police officers sliced through the surging crowd single-file.
'Move it along,' they called to whoever would listen. But those who gave way were immediately replaced by others.
'Passengers on the number 410 to Ningbo over here,' a station master shouted, pointing to a line of baggage-heavy travellers snaking across an iron barrier and out into the car park.
Towards the rear of the column, an exasperated factory agent, with 'Development' stencilled on his baseball cap, was dragging a wayward worker forward. 'Come with me now,' he shrieked. 'Stay with the group.' Some of his other employees, all wearing similar caps, sheepishly pulled themselves and their belongings through the line and disappeared into the crowd.
Guangzhou railway station enjoys a well-earned reputation for mayhem at Spring Festival.
Much has to do with the excitement created by the swelling throngs of travellers, their booty-laden plastic suitcases and striped woven bags, and the inadequate facilities of the city's decaying downtown terminal.