China's Railways Handle 258 Million Passenger Trips During Lunar New Year Period

Beijing (ANTARA) - China’s railways recorded 258 million passenger trips during the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year travel rush spanning 40 days, as the travel period entered its second half, the national railway operator announced on Sunday (22/2).

According to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd, on Saturday (21/2), which marked the 20th day of the 2026 Spring Festival travel season, approximately 17.19 million passenger trips were recorded.

The operator estimated that passenger volumes would remain high on Sunday, with an estimated 17.93 million trips. A total of 2,203 additional passenger trains have been scheduled to meet the surge in demand.

The railway authorities have also increased transport capacity on major routes, improved services in station areas and onboard trains, and taken further measures to enhance the travel experience.

This year’s Spring Festival fell on 17 February. The travel surge, also known as chunyun, is frequently described as the world’s largest annual human migration. The 40-day travel period this year runs from 2 February to 13 March.