Spring Travel Festival: 285 Million Passengers on the First Day of Chinese New Year Alone

Beijing, Fagun 4: It is projected that over 285 million inter-regional passengers will travel across China on Sunday, the first day of the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival). The number of passengers is expected to set a record on the very first day of the nine-day public holiday.

According to the Ministry of Transport, this figure for Sunday is 10.5 percent higher compared to the same period last year. This massive migration during the Chinese New Year is the largest annual human migration in human history.

The number of passengers traveling by road on Sunday is projected to reach 268.75 million, an increase of 10.8 percent compared to last year. The number of passengers traveling by rail is estimated to increase by 4.3 percent, and by air by 6.4 percent. The highest growth is seen in waterways, where passenger numbers are projected to increase by 28.1 percent compared to last year.

This year, the Chinese New Year falls on February 17 (Falgun 5). Although the official holiday is only nine days long, this year’s travel season will start from February 2 and continue until March 13. It is estimated that a total of 9 billion passengers will travel during this period.

The Chinese New Year is known as the world’s largest human migration. During this period, people return to their hometowns to celebrate the New Year with their families. This year’s travel statistics also reflect the revival of China’s economy and the growing enthusiasm of the people for travel.

The Ministry of Transport has made special arrangements for trains, buses, planes, and ships to manage such a large number of passengers. The ministry has stated that work is underway to operate additional services, strengthen security measures, and facilitate the ticket booking system.

China’s tourism industry is also very busy during this travel season. Many people, besides returning to their hometowns, also visit tourist destinations during the New Year holiday. This also provides a boost to the local economy.