China’s 2026 Spring Festival travel season kicks off. Millions are on the move by train, plane, and car across the country.
China’s 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, known as Chunyun, officially began on February 2nd and will last until March 13th, spanning 40 days.
This year’s Chunyun coincides with a nine-day Spring Festival holiday. As a result, demand for family reunions and leisure travel is rising at the same time. Authorities estimate that cross-regional passenger trips across the country will reach 9.5 billion, setting a new record, HKCNA reported.
Private car travel will remain the dominant mode, accounting for about 80 per cent of all trips. Meanwhile, railways are expected to handle 540 million passenger journeys, while civil aviation will serve around 95 million travellers. Both total volume and daily peak traffic are likely to exceed previous records.
Behind these numbers are millions of personal journeys. Some travellers head home for a reunion dinner. Others set out for mountains, rivers, and new destinations.
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