Spring Festival rush: Travelers embrace new routes and conveniences

This year's Spring Festival travel rush, the world's largest annual human migration, kicked off on Tuesday, with over 9 billion cross-regional trips expected. Thanks to the rapid development of China's transportation sector, travelers now enjoy more choices and a more convenient, comfortable experience.

The 40-day travel rush will end on Feb 22. According to the Ministry of Transport, an estimated 9 billion cross-regional trips will take place, marking a 7 percent increase from 2024. Railway and air passenger numbers are expected to surpass 510 million and 90 million trips, respectively, both reaching historic highs. Self-driving trips are projected to dominate, accounting for 7.2 billion trips, or approximately 80 percent of all cross-regional movement.

On Tuesday, the first day of the travel rush, the total cross-regional travel volume was expected to reach 172.39 million trips. Of these, railway passenger volume stood at 10.3 million, highway travel at 159.52 million, waterway passenger volume at 530,000, and air passenger volume at 2.04 million, according to the ministry.

Huang Yue, one of the millions of travelers on Tuesday, embarked on a "travel experiment" to test an alternative convenient route for her future trips home.

Huang, originally from Changbaishan Mountain in Northeast China's Jilin province, works over 3,000 kilometers away in Hezhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Her commute home is akin to traveling from Key West, at the southern tip of the United States, to Quebec City in Canada.

Typically, Huang flies home, enduring a day-long journey with multiple transfers and overnight stays. This year, however, she opted for a sleeper bullet train. She boarded in Guangxi on Monday, transferred in Beijing on Tuesday, and arrived in Changbaishan around 7 pm.

"It was my first time on a sleeper bullet train. It is very comfortable and provides some privacy," Huang said. "I even got a snack box. I recorded a vlog to share with my family."

Price was another deciding factor. Thanks to the less popular route between Guangxi and Beijing, she secured a 50 percent discount, paying about 1,300 yuan for the train ticket. A flight with a better schedule would have cost her over 2,000 yuan.

"In the past, discounted flight tickets often arrived late. I didn't want to trouble my parents with a late-night airport pickup," she explained. "Taking the train home is a great alternative."

Huang also shared her experience of flying with a transfer in Beijing. "I slept at Beijing Daxing International Airport. The lounges and rest areas were convenient, and I really enjoyed transferring in Beijing."

"This time, although it was my first experience taking a sleeper bullet train, I wanted to see if it could become a convenient alternative for future trips home." It seems it might.

Huang is one of millions of travelers in China experiencing more travel options. The Spring Festival travel rush, once a daunting challenge for those returning home, has transformed into a journey filled with choices. For instance, people who previously relied on long-distance buses can now choose between buses, high-speed rail, and regular-speed trains. Similarly, those once limited to flights can now consider sleeper bullet trains, like Huang did.

On Tuesday, Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station buzzed with energy. Travelers lined up in orderly queues, clutching large bags packed with gifts and hopes of reunion. Families—some spanning three generations—waited together, excited for their journey home.

To handle the surge, the station added temporary trains to popular destinations like Dalian, Jilin, and Harbin. "We've increased capacity, added temporary trains, and enhanced services to ensure a smooth experience for travelers," said Wang Qiang, an official from the station.

This approach reflects railway authorities' nationwide efforts to manage the surge in passenger numbers.

Zhou Changfeng, an official from the China State Railway Group, said: "The national railway is expected to handle 510 million passenger trips during the travel rush, averaging 12.75 million daily—a 5.5 percent year-on-year increase. We prepared in advance, scientifically arranged transportation capacity, improved service quality, strengthened safety measures, and enhanced emergency response capabilities."

He also noted that passenger capacity on popular routes has been increased, with additional temporary trains and nighttime high-speed rail services. Over 14,000 daily trains are operating nationwide, providing an additional 500,000 seats per day—a 4 percent year-on-year increase.

Discounted fares are also available on less popular routes, with regular-speed trains up to 80 percent off and bullet trains up to 70 percent off.

"For example, a second-class ticket from Shenyang in Liaoning province to Beijing on Jan. 23 for train G996 costs 105 yuan, compared to the regular price of 349 yuan. Similarly, a hard-seat ticket from Kunming in Yunnan province to Shanghai South on train K4418 costs 53.5 yuan, down from the usual 278.5 yuan," Zhou said.

Airlines are also stepping up, with 18,354 flights scheduled on Tuesday to cater to the expected 2.04 million passenger trips. Popular routes between major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu are seeing high demand, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

At Beijing Capital International Airport, the atmosphere was equally dynamic. The airport hall hummed with constant movement. The sound of rolling luggage wheels echoed as passengers hurried in every direction, their faces a mix of anticipation and urgency. During the travel rush, the airport expects to handle 7.95 million passenger trips, a 6.8 percent year-on-year increase.

New services, such as a counter offering everything from SIM cards to free half-day tours for international passengers, add to the airport's appeal, according to Feng Liwei, operations duty manager at the airport's operations control center.

This year's Spring Festival falls on Jan 29. For Chinese people, the festival is more than a holiday—it is a time for family and reunion. The once-daunting task of traveling home has transformed into a journey filled with options and convenience.