Guangzhou (JLC), February 8, 2024 – The Spring Festival travel rush (Chunyun) has gathered strength since February 5, after daily trips fell below the 200-million-mark on February 4 due to heavy snows and freezing rains that affected some provinces, according to JLC’s calculations based on data from the Ministry of Transport.
A total of approximately 2.64 billion passenger trips were completed between January 26 and February 7 by road, railway, air and waterway across the country, JLC’s calculations showed.
It represented a surge of 9.53% from the corresponding period in 2023, and an increase of 2.70% from the pre-pandemic levels (the corresponding period in 2019), the calculations showed.
This year’s travel rush will be the busiest one that China has ever seen, the Ministry of Transport predicted, with 9 billion passenger trips expected in the 40-day Chunyun, which began on January 26.
Daily trips surge during February 5-7
As the Lunar New Year drew near, daily passenger trips surged during February 5-7, data from the Ministry of Transport showed. More trains and planes were back in services after weather conditions improved.
Approximately 246 million passenger trips were taken across the country on February 7, the highest daily level so far.
Passengers by road, air, rail and waterway went up across the aboard between February 5 and February 7, the data showed.
The Ministry of Transport said earlier that road traffic is expected to peak on February 17, and air traffic on February 8, February 16, February 20 and February 25.
Expressways will be open for free from 00:00 Beijing Time (GMT+8) on February 9 to 24:00 on February 17, which will further stimulate road traffic.
Therefore, the daily passenger volume is expected to rise in the coming days.
