Chunyun begins: 9.5 billion trips in 40 days, record travel for Lunar New Year in China

News Topical, Digital Desk : The annual "Chunyun" pilgrimage, held before the Lunar New Year in China, has reached record levels this year. Millions of people are traveling long distances to celebrate the festival with their families. Despite financial hardships, people are prioritizing returning home.

Liu Zhiquan, a construction worker in Beijing, was waiting for a more than 30-hour train journey to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, about 2,000 kilometers from Beijing.

He said the situation this year seems worse than last year. The economy is weak, and earning money is becoming increasingly difficult. Liu chose the slower train to save money. The faster train would have taken just nine hours, but the fare was more than double.

Travel at record levels

Still, Liu decided to go home, as it's a special time of year when workers across the country take leave to spend time with their families. China celebrates the Lunar New Year on February 17th. The 40-day travel period associated with this occasion is called "Chunyun." According to government estimates, there will be 9.5 billion trips during this period, an all-time record.

Train and air travel statistics

According to the National Development and Reform Commission, of these 9.5 billion trips, approximately 540 million will be by train. About 95 million will travel by plane. Most of the rest will travel home by road. Long working hours and few annual holidays in China make this festival a very special occasion for people.

At Beijing's railway station, passengers waited with large bags and suitcases. Many were eating instant noodles, as hot water is available free of charge at the station. Tian Duofu, a newcomer in Beijing, said she was eagerly awaiting the nine-day holiday starting February 15th.

He said that after starting his job, he realized that such long vacations are rare, and family gatherings are becoming less frequent. Therefore, the Spring Festival is special to him.

The joy of meeting family

Tian Yunxia from Henan Province, who runs a snack stall in Beijing, said the New Year is the biggest festival. "If we don't go home, we won't be able to feel the true atmosphere of the festival," she said. She wants to go home to see her children, grandchildren, and husband.

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