China's Lunar New Year Migration Sets New Record in 2026

The period of Chunyun, or the Lunar New Year (Imlek) migration in 2026, has set a new record in the history of human mobility with a surge in cross-regional travel, according to Travel and Tour World.

Official data shows that during this holiday period, travel volume increased by approximately 10.8 per cent compared to regular days in early 2026, indicating very high demand for domestic and cross-regional travel.

According to Travel and Tour World, citing government publications, more than 350 million cross-regional journeys occur daily during this period, with figures reaching nearly 380 million journeys on peak days. The total is estimated to reach approximately 9.5 billion trips over the 40-day Chunyun season, which encompasses travel before, during, and after Lunar New Year.

This figure demonstrates significant growth in the number of air passengers travelling both domestically and internationally compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, rail and road transport remain the backbone of the migration, with millions of passengers using high-speed rail routes and private vehicles for long-distance travel throughout the country.

The Chunyun phenomenon not only reflects China’s long-standing tradition of celebrating the New Year with family but also confirms the full recovery of travel demand following the pandemic and the important role of extended holidays in driving domestic mobility.

This remarkable phenomenon makes Lunar New Year one of the world’s largest human mobility events and demonstrates a sustained growth trend in travel among the Chinese population.