Traveling is a leisure that the Chinese have longed for quite some time and it seems that a "travel boom" has finally come.

Most people in China take part in group tours when traveling inside the country. Not only do they have little knowledge of how to travel, but sightseeing spots are often inconveniently located and are hard to reach. Likewise, Chinese travelers usually travel as part of a group when going overseas, since applying for a visa can be a cumbersome task. The number of Chinese tourists is expected to rise, however, as the ban on individual travel was lifted from July 2009 for destinations in Japan, although exclusively for wealthy travelers with more than 250,000 yuan (approximately 3.5 million yen) of annual income residing in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

With that in mind, I reflected on how the typical Chinese person travels. In particular, what is it like to travel by air in China?

During the Lunar New Year or consecutive holidays in China, airports are extremely crowded. Since most airports do not have group check-in counters, individual and group travelers are all mixed in the same line and irritation and frustration boils over among individual travelers as a result of the lengthy check-in wait times. Gate changes - even after you have received your boarding pass - are an everyday occurrence. One of our Japanese clients missed a flight departing from Beijing for Japan because he missed the announcement and did not realize that the gate had been changed.

 At the gate, there will be a long line of people waiting to board. Many Chinese are eager to rush to their seats and secure space to stow their hand luggage. Quarrels often arise between passengers and the airport staff that measure the size of a passenger's luggage and fights even breakout among passengers over the use of the luggage compartments. Even after boarding, one can't avoid the noise made by the large number of tourists travelling in groups and arguing over seat assignments, not to mention passengers refusing to move from somebody else's seat. You will be amazed to find people around you making phone calls or sending text messages after settling down in their seats.

The moment the aircraft lands, you will hear three kinds of sounds: "bang, clang and beep." As the aircraft lands, people take off their seat belts and everybody switches on their mobile phones. People start making phone calls as soon as they land and start emptying the luggage compartments before the aircraft comes to a stop. They then rush to be the first to get out of the aircraft. I once witnessed a passenger pulling out his luggage and dashing from his seat to the exit the moment the aircraft landed. Although a relaxed attitude is supposed to be a virtue in Chinese society, maybe people are still haunted by memories of harsh days gone by when it comes to vehicles.

The travel habits of the Chinese have yet to progress beyond the beginner level. I wonder what they will aim for next.