Efficient transportation network ensures smooth Spring Festival travel rush in China

Optimized efficiency in China's vast transportation network ensured a smooth 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, with a record of more than 9.4 billion inter-regional passenger trips registered across the country during the period.

The travel rush, often described as the world's largest annual human migration, highlights China's massive mobility and vibrant economic activity. This year, the rush started on Feb. 2 and ended on March 13.

"This year's Spring Festival travel rush exhibited a new characteristic of 'one increase and two decreases.' During the 40-day travel rush period, the total number of inter-regional passenger trips exceeded 9.4 billion, averaging 235 million trips per day, a year-on-year increase of 4.3 percent. Both the scale of travel and the peak daily volume set new historical records. During the Spring Festival holiday, the number of severely congested sections of highways decreased by 40 percent year on year, and the number of service areas with particularly busy charging stations decreased by 48 percent year on year,” said Gao Bo, deputy director of the Transport Services Department of the Ministry of Transport.

Self-driving trips continued to dominate during this year's rush, accounting for 80 percent of all travel. With over 70,000 charging stations deployed at highway service areas nationwide, the needs of new energy vehicle were robustly supported. Nearly 100,000 kilometers of newly renovated rural roads made the country trips more enjoyable.

"We frequently drive on highways, and charging cars at service areas is very convenient. By the time we finish our meal, the car is fully charged when we get back in. Overall, highway travel is comfortable," said a driver.

The 3,109 kilometers of new railway lines opened in 2025 were launched for the first time during this year's Spring Festival travel rush, including 2,862 kilometers of high-speed rail. Throughout the rush, over 10,000 high-speed trains operated daily across the country.

During this year's Spring Festival travel rush, air passenger traffic reached a record high. Several new airports and terminals began operations, providing robust support for travelers.

As the first Spring Festival travel rush following the implementation of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port, the period saw a surge in passenger traffic at Sanya Phoenix International Airport, which transported over 3.57 million travelers. The newly opened Terminal 3 managed more than 3,400 flights and served over 730,000 passengers during the period.

"[The new terminal] effectively diverted passenger flow and alleviated pressure on flight operations. The 40 newly added check-in counters and 23 security checkpoints significantly reduced passenger queuing pressure," said Qian Xiaoyi, Vice President of Sanya Phoenix International Airport.

Efficient transportation network ensures smooth Spring Festival travel rush in China

The Japanese society should do soul-searching regarding its history of aggression and adhere to the pacifist constitution, said Shiradori Hiroshi, a professor of the Hosei University, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in Tokyo on April 30.

He said the government's recent move to discuss revising the three security documents deserve particular attention as the country's foreign and security policies have already witnessed major changes.

"People outside of the country hold that Japan's post-war image as a 'peace state' is now facing a major shift. Against the backdrop of tremendous changes in its foreign and security policies, the revision of the three security documents deserves particular attention. There lacks public debate in terms of the procedure, with policy changes decided unilaterally at Cabinet meetings. It is necessary to fully explain to the public as to whether such a practice is proper," said Hiroshi.

The Japanese government held its first expert panel meeting to discuss revisions to the three security documents at the Prime Minister's Office on April 27, local media reported.

Japan's current National Security Strategy and two related documents, formulated in 2022, were designed to cover the next 10 years, but the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has decided to move up the timetable to accelerate the revision process.

Increasing defense spending is one of the key topics of the meeting, according to Kyodo News.

Hiroshi said this year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, or Tokyo Trials, and the Japanese society must do soul-searching regarding its history of aggression in WWII, when it brought enormous catastrophes on Asian countries.

"Eighty years have passed since the opening of the Tokyo Trials. Japan inflicted enormous suffering on Asian countries during WWII, which should serve as an opportunity for the soul-searching. It is exact on the basis of countless sacrifices that Japan's post-war pacifism and its identity as a 'peace state' took shape. On this 80th anniversary, it is necessary for Japan to re-examine and do soul-searching regarding its history," said Hiroshi.

The Japanese government's effort to revise the pacifist constitution is widely opposed by the public.

On Sunday, around 50,000 people gathered at Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, chanting slogans and holding banners against the government's push for constitutional revision and military expansion, the largest turnout of its kind in recent years.

Japan should adhere to pacifist constitution: scholar