Disposable seat covers gain traction on China's high-speed trains amid hygiene concerns

As summer travel ramps up, more passengers on China's high-speed trains are bringing disposable seat covers, citing hygiene concerns and frustration over unsanitary onboard behavior.

Social media has seen a surge of complaints about passengers placing their bare feet on tray tables, stepping directly on seats, and engaging in other unhygienic activities. This type of behavior has left many travelers uneasy, particularly during hot summer months when fears of spreading skin conditions run higher.

"Just thinking about someone's feet being on the tray where I eat ruins my appetite," one user wrote. Others called on railway authorities to take more action, with some questioning why in-app complaint systems are seemingly ineffective.

Chinese media outlet The Paper contacted customer service lines for 12306, China's official train ticketing platform, in cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Xi'an and Wuhan. 

Representatives said staff can politely remind passengers to follow proper etiquette but lack enforcement authority. There are no penalties for inappropriate behavior, and hygiene enforcement depends largely on public cooperation.

Beijing and Xi'an representatives said deep cleaning occurs at the end of each journey, while mid-route cleaning is handled by onboard staff. In Xi'an, fresh seat covers are typically installed before departure. However, requests for extra seat covers depend on availability.

Online retailers have reported surging sales of disposable seat covers with the arrival of summer and the peak travel season. One popular store has sold over 217,000 units, while many others have shifted tens of thousands. Some listings show more than 8,000 customers adding the product to their carts recently.

Though the high-speed rail system doesn't sell disposable seat covers onboard, railway staff in several regions said they are open to feedback and future possibilities.

"As long as it doesn't bother other passengers, why not use one?" said one netizen. Others view disposable seat covers as an affordable solution, as long as passengers remove them after their trip.