Spring Festival Travel Sees Surge in Cross-Regional Trips

China is poised to witness a record surge in cross-regional travel during the upcoming Spring Festival, signaling a robust consumer demand paired with advancements in transportation. The peak travel day is anticipated to occur on February 13, with an estimated 285 million passenger journeys expected to be undertaken.

Analysts suggest that this remarkable increase in travel is indicative of China's economic vitality, which is bolstered by significant enhancements in transportation capacity. Improvements, including the expansion of rail and air networks, the introduction of domestically produced aircraft, and upgraded infrastructure for electric vehicle charging, contribute to a more efficient travel experience.

As reported by CCTV, railway passenger trips are projected to see a 0.5 percent uptick compared to the previous day. Road travel, being the predominant mode, is expected to grow by 4.9 percent year-on-year. Waterway transport is estimated to increase by 6.5 percent from last year, while civil aviation is forecasted to facilitate 2.46 million trips, reflecting a 3.4 percent rise.

Spanning from February 2 to March 13, the 2026 Spring Festival travel season is set to orchestrate a staggering 9.5 billion cross-regional trips over the course of 40 days. This translates to nearly seven journeys per person nationwide, marking a new record high, as stated by the Ministry of Transport.

Often referred to as the largest annual human migration globally, the Spring Festival travel season not only highlights advancements in transport capacity and technology but also serves as a crucial reflection of consumer sentiment and societal trends. The recent nine-day holiday is expected to further amplify travel demand during this period.

A key driver behind the surge in travel activity is the enhanced transport capacity. Recent reports from CCTV indicate that prior to the travel season, 22 new high-speed railway lines totaling 3,109 kilometers have been launched, complemented by the inauguration of over 50 passenger stations, marking their first operational use during this festival season.

On peak travel days, over 14,000 passenger trains are anticipated to be in operation, alongside an impressive daily management of approximately 19,400 flights. This reinforces the significant coordination capability of China's transportation network to efficiently manage substantial traffic flows.

The China State Railway Group recently announced that its operational high-speed rail mileage has surpassed 50,000 kilometers, exceeding the combined miles of all other countries and establishing China's leadership in high-speed rail. This milestone fortifies the operational backbone that supports extensive travel during the holiday season.

In addition to rail travel, the expansion of air transport capacity is notable, with the Civil Aviation Administration of China forecasting a 5.3 percent increase in passenger volume during the travel season, achieving a new record high. The domestically developed large passenger aircraft, the C919, is becoming increasingly integral in the transportation matrix over this holiday.

During the festival period, China Eastern Airlines plans to operate an average of over 50 flights per day with its fleet of C919 aircraft, marking a 52.6 percent increase over the previous year. China Southern Airlines noted a 49.1 percent year-on-year increase in passenger volumes attributable to its C919 and C909 aircraft.

The increase in road travel is also reflective of shifts in vehicle structures, with daily traffic from new energy vehicles on expressways expected to approach 9.5 million during the holiday. To accommodate this rise, many regions have made significant upgrades to their charging infrastructure.