China to handle 5.08 billion domestic trips overall as Spring Festival travel rush hits halfway point

China is expected to handle 5.08 billion domestic passenger trips in total as this year's 40-day Spring Festival travel rush period hit its halfway point on Saturday, according to official estimates.

On average, a record 250 million trips are being made daily across different Chinese regions from Feb 2, the start of the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush period, to Feb 21.

More than 360 million cross-regional trips are expected on Saturday, marking the third consecutive day during which passenger flow has exceeded the single-day peak of the same period in the history of the annual holiday travel rush.

Saturday, which is also Day 6 of this year's official nine-day Spring Festival holiday, also saw a rise in the number of return trips across China, as people head back to big cities from their hometowns.

The country's rail network is expected to handle 16.8 million passenger trips on the day.

Southwest China's Guizhou, and central China's Hubei and Hunan provinces on Saturday mobilized more overnight high-speed trains and deployed special train services to meet the increasing travel demand by migrant workers.

The Guangzhou South Railway Station in south China's Guangdong Province, a premier destination for migrant labor, has recently brought an intelligent system online to ensure the smooth high-intensity operations during the return travel rush.

On China's roads, over 339 million trips have been estimated on Saturday, with traffic volume on expressways expected to exceed 65 million.

Meanwhile, Saturday is also expected to see 2.63 million passenger trips made by air and 1.81 million trips made by water, with the maritime authorities monitoring key areas around the clock to ensure the safety of passengers on their return journeys.

"The volume of cross-regional personnel flow is expected to continue increasing tomorrow to reach the peak of overall passenger flow in the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush period this year. We've been continuously improving the comprehensive transportation network, effectively guaranteeing the large-scale travel of the population," said Yang Yong, deputy head of the Transport Services Department of the Chinese Ministry of Transport.

The Spring Festival travel rush, also known as "chunyun," amounts to the world's largest annual human migration as millions embark on journeys across the nation to reunite with loved ones to celebrate the arrival of the Chinese New Year.

The Spring Festival fell on Feb 17 this year. The official holiday lasts nine days from Feb 15 to 23, with the travel rush period lasting through March 13.

China to handle 5.08 billion domestic trips overall as Spring Festival travel rush hits halfway point

Foreign tourists are flocking to southwest China's Yunnan Province and Shanghai during the Spring Festival holiday, drawn by the chance to immerse themselves in the traditions and cultural richness of the Chinese New Year.

The nine-day holiday began on Sunday, while the Spring Festival itself, China’s most important annual celebration marked by family reunions, festive foods, and New Year wishes, fell on Tuesday this year.

Starting from Wednesday, Hekou Port in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, witnessed a surge in both inbound and outbound tourism. Each morning during the holiday, crowds streamed across the Nanxi River Bridge at the Hekou land port, entry-exit documents in hand, ready to embark on vibrant journeys through China.

Inside the joint inspection hall, officers from the Hekou border inspection station directed visitors to designated lanes, ensuring smooth clearance in less than five minutes.

"Our whole family loves China. We enjoy the food and scenery here. If I get the chance, I'd like to visit northern China too," said a Vietnamese tourist.

"I come to China to celebrate the Chinese New Year with my family. The atmosphere here is so lively. I really like the firecrackers. It's very fun and everybody is very happy. I can't wait to eat the food tonight because Chinese food is very good," said a French tourist.

During the first four days of the Spring Festival holiday, from February 15 to 18, the Hekou Port handled 21,500 border crossings.

"During the Spring Festival holiday, Hekou Port is experiencing a peak in inbound passenger traffic. It is projected that over 100,000 people will cross the border at Hekou Port throughout the entire holiday period," said Hou Qian, a police officer of the Hekou entry-exit border inspection station.

In Shanghai, commercial districts and landmarks are staging special folk activities throughout the holiday. For many foreigners spending their first Spring Festival in China, these events offer a vivid introduction to traditional culture, experienced against the backdrop of a city where age-old customs meet modern urban life.

"It's so colorful and it's so pretty. I think it's going to be so exciting and so glamorous. So Chinese Spring Festival is actually glamorous and very festive and so many people celebrate. And I'm very excited to see what' s happening here that's why I came here. There's a lot of history here and there's a lot to explore," said a Sri Lankan tourist.

"I think it's beautiful how a lot of shows are made to give fortune to each other and like spread hope for the future and for this year," said an Italian tourist.

Foreign tourists flock to Yunnan, Shanghai during Chinese New Year