China’s Lunar New Year travel rush kicks into high gear
Nine billion journeys are expected during the celebrations – the world’s biggest annual movement of humanity.
China’s Lunar New Year travel rush has kicked into high gear, with billions of journeys expected in the coming days for the peak of the 40-day annual mass migration – the world’s biggest annual movement of humanity.
The actual new year holiday, which marks the start of the year of the snake in the 12-month lunar calendar, comes on Wednesday, while New Year’s Eve on Tuesday is reserved for family gatherings and traditional fireworks displays.
Many began travelling on January 14 and the rush will reach a peak over the weekend. In total, nine billion journeys – mostly by car – are expected over the 40-day travel rush.
Journeys are now far more comfortable than in past years, when travellers often crammed into train carriages for trips that could last days – if they were fortunate enough to buy a ticket, which are now mostly sold online.
Traditionally, the festival has been a time for families to gather, with members of China’s huge migrant worker population using up all their holiday time on the annual visit that for many offers the only chance to see parents and children.
Cross-border trips are expected to rise by nearly 10%, including foreign tourists willing to risk the crowds to take in the spectacle.
The government grants eight public holiday days from January 28 to February 4.
While fireworks have been all but eradicated under President Xi Jinping, traditional events such as temple markets draped in auspicious bright red colours continue to draw visitors in their millions.
