China expects around 9 billion trips during the period known as ‘chunyun’, the world’s largest annual migration, which takes place every year before, during and after the Lunar New Year holiday.
In 2024, the holiday falls between February 10th and 17th. Also known as the Spring Festival and a time of reunion and celebration for Chinese families, this year’s ‘chunyun’ will take place between January 26th and March 5th, a period for which high demand for transport is expected.
According to the traditional lunar calendar, China will welcome the Year of the Dragon on February 10, leaving behind the Year of the Rabbit.
Although the holidays officially run between February 10th and 17th, many migrant workers take vacations before and after the festive period to visit their families.
During the 40 days of ‘chunyun’ this year, 1.8 billion commercial trips are expected by rail, road, sea and air, Vice Minister of Transport, Li Yang, said yesterday at a press conference.
In addition to this number, another 7.2 billion trips are expected by private transport, he added. The country recorded 1.595 billion commercial trips during the 2023 ‘chunyun’, the first year without the restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The restrictions that accompanied China’s strict policy were in force for almost three years and consisted of confinements where cases were recorded, border closures, isolation of all infected people and their close contacts and constant PCR testing of the population.