Guangzhou (JLC), February 18, 2024 – The Spring Festival travel rush (Chunyun) has gathered steam again since February 11 (the second day of the Lunar New Year), with daily trips exceeding the 300-million mark during February 13-17, according to JLC’s calculations based on data from the Ministry of Transport.
A total of approximately 5.40 billion passenger trips were completed between January 26 and February 17 by road, railway, air and waterway across the country, JLC’s calculations showed.
It represented a surge of about 15.76% from the corresponding period in 2023, and an increase of 14.40% from the pre-pandemic levels (the corresponding period in 2019), the calculations showed.
This year’s travel rush will be the busiest 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 exceed 300 million on Feb 13-17
The travel rush began picking up steam again on February 11 (the second day of the Lunar New Year), as people visited relatives or friends, or went out for sightseeing from that day on. Traditionally, people stayed home for family reunions on the first day of the Lunar New Year (this year on February 10).
Approximately 315 million passenger trips were taken across the country on February 15 (the sixth day of the Lunar New Year), the highest daily level so far.
The traffic is expected to retreat in the coming days, but will remain at high levels because some citizens are taking longer holiday and will gradually return to work. Some are expected to return after the Lantern Festival (February 24).
