Chen Jinlin was both tired and anxious when she finally arrived at express delivery DDS's Beijing branch, a building outside of the East Fifth Ring Road.

Her journey across the city had taken almost four hours, and came in response to news the night before that the courier firm had gone bankrupt.

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"I just want my pack back," Chen, 36, told METRO Wednesday.

Security guards said she was not allowed to enter the DDS building to reclaim her pack and the doors were tightly locked. She then dialed 110 for help.

Chen said she had asked DDS to deliver invoices to Chaoyang district last week. An employee called her to say that because DDS had closed, she must collect the package herself.

"I came all the way from Fragrant Hills. If it is lost, my company will ask me to pay for it," she said.

In a single story room close to the DDS building were several former employees waiting to pick up delayed salaries.

"We were called up by the accountant at five o'clock on Tuesday morning to collect our salaries. Three cars drove us around in circles for hours to get rid of creditors from other companies," a former driver surnamed Zhao told METRO.

"Finally, I was given 1,800 yuan at a building close to Fatou Bridge, a 10-minute drive from here," he said.

Zhao said the courier firm still owes him 3,800 yuan.

"I will wait. It's a big sum for me," he said.

Zhao also claimed that as much as 80 percent of employees still hadn't received their full salaries.

"I have decided to give up and go home for the Spring Festival because I have little hope in getting paid," said Zhang Shan, 24, from Hebei province.

Former employee Zhang noted that in October last year, DDS had been doing well and was recruiting.

"It's a heavy blow for us young people because this was our first job. We have been put off working in the courier industry forever," she added.