According to a meeting held on Wednesday, the Chinese mainland is gearing up for a record-breaking 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, also known as chunyun. From February 2 to March 13, the 40-day period when millions journey across regions for the Lunar New Year, passenger volumes are set to hit new highs.
Rail remains the backbone of holiday travel. The national railway network is projected to handle 539 million passenger trips – 5 percent more than during the 2025 Spring Festival rush – China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. said.
Civil aviation is also poised for a milestone: the Civil Aviation Administration of China estimates 95 million air passenger trips during the festival period.
Road trips are expected to lead this year's Spring Festival travel rush, the meeting noted, adding that effective measures need to be taken to ensure smooth traffic flow, maintain safety and mitigate the impact of extreme weather.
Reference(s):
China expects record inter-regional trips during Spring Festival
cgtn.com
