Spring Festival travel expected to reach record high

BEIJING: China’s Spring Festival travel volume is expected to reach a record high, with transport authorities meticulously making preparations, including increasing transportation capacity, strengthening transportation coordination, enhancing safety measures and optimizing services, officials said.
The Spring Festival travel rush, or chunyun, is set to break historical records this year, with an estimated 9 billion trips expected to be made across the country during the 40-day period from Jan 14 to Feb 22, according to Li Chunlin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission.
This marks a nearly 7 percent increase from 2024, when the number of trips reached 8.4 billion.
For many, China’s Spring Festival travel rush is not just the beginning of the year, but a journey home — a journey filled with reunions, joy and traditions.
As the world’s largest annual human migration unfolds once again, it not only highlights the sheer scale of this extraordinary feat, but also serves as a powerful testament to the Chinese government’s ability to organize, manage and execute such a complex operation. It’s a remarkable celebration of homecoming, family and the human spirit, and a resounding verification of China’s management capabilities on a global stage.
At a national video conference on Tuesday, Li outlined plans to ensure a smooth and efficient Spring Festival travel season. He emphasized the importance of enhancing transportation capacity, improving safety measures and optimizing passenger services.
“We are committed to delivering a safe, warm and convenient Spring Festival journey,” he said.
The 2025 chunyun period will see surges in rail and air travels. The number of rail passenger trips is expected to surpass 510 million, while civil aviation is set to handle 90 million trips, with both numbers reflecting increases over 2024 levels. Self-driving travel will remain the dominant mode of transportation.
In preparation, authorities are taking comprehensive steps to accommodate the anticipated passenger flow, including expanding transportation capacity, improving coordination between different modes of transportation and enhancing emergency response capabilities.
The Ministry of Transport has also established a team to oversee Spring Festival operations, ensuring smooth integration of rail, road, sea and air transportation services. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item