Xu Yifeng, 29, works for a private company and travels frequently on business trips from Changsha, capital of Hunan province, to Beijing, preferring to take the high-speed G69 train over airplanes or other modes of transportation.

"I really appreciate the considerate service from the stewards on the train," Xu said, adding that she took the train for the first time in July.

She recalled that she rushed to catch the train, sweating in the hot summer. A young steward offered her a cup of water after departure.

"When I got to sleep, he covered me with a blanket to ward off the cool air from the air conditioner," she said. "I was impressed by their attentive service."

The leader of the team of male stewards - the first such team in northern China - Fan Jie, 35, said they will also remind sleeping passengers on the high-speed G69 to get off the train when it arrives at their destination between Beijing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

"For any passenger in need, we will do our best to help them enjoy their trip. And we will do it better," Fan said.

The six team members, all men in their 20s and standing about 1.8 meters tall, have learned a lot about service. They've even been known to mend clothes for passengers.

But it can be a challenge because passengers are accustomed to the voices of female attendants on trains, according to Yang Hongyu, leader of all high-speed train steward teams in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province.

When the passengers become impatient with delays, females seem to have an advantage in calming them down, Yang said, but the young men can handle them, too.

"These young men are also trained to deal with such situations, which require them to control their tempers," he said.

But stewards also have their own advantages: They are better suited to certain tasks, he said.

"It's easier for us to help the passengers with their large luggage and urge some passengers to stop violating rules on trains," said Wang Feng, a 25-year-old steward.

A high-speed train trip from Beijing to Guangzhou requires more than nine hours. According to the schedule, each of the six stewards is assigned to two to four carriages. Tasks include checking tickets, sorting luggage and other necessary services. Wang will be responsible for serving passengers in four carriages.

"We will make rounds in the carriages every 15 minutes," Wang said, adding that he has to replace his socks after every trip "because they are worn out."

Fan, the team's leader, said stewards walk about 15 km in the course of service on a single trip, resulting in calloused feet. He added that they are seldom able to have their meals on time.

zhengjinran@chinadaily.com.cn