Railway stations and airports across China have already seen their biggest peak in passenger traffic ahead of the Lunar New Year as millions of people return home to spend the holidays with their families in what is expected to be a record annual migration. .
Chinese New Year, the Year of the Snake, begins on Wednesday.
During the traditional 40-day period leading up to, during and after the holiday, about nine billion inter-provincial passengers are expected to travel on all modes combined, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Train and air travel are expected to “reach record highs” during this year’s migration, Xinhua said.
The transport ministry said 510 million train and 90 million air journeys are expected during the period.
According to China Railways, which has added thousands of trains to meet demand, there was a “significant peak” at stations ahead of the holiday on Saturday.
It said it used data from ticket sales and waiting lists to forecast and manage supply.
With many people working and studying in provinces other than their own due to better opportunities, large population movements occur around the New Year holidays.
With many factories already closed for the holiday, workers traditionally return home earlier than the rest of the population.
