Spring Festival travel rush - 2025!!!

Travelers watch a lion dance performance at Chengdu East Railway Station in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 14, 2025. The Spring Festival, China's biggest traditional holiday, will fall on Jan. 29 this year. The Spring Festival travel rush, or chunyun, the world's largest annual human migration known for its high transportation demand as millions return home for family reunions, kicked off on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)



A father and his son are pictured at Nanning East Railway Station in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)



Two college students returning home try paper-cutting at Nanning East Railway Station in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)



A family is pictured at Chongqing West Railway Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Jan. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)



Travelers walk in Beijing West Railway Station in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Du Zixuan)



Travelers prepare to enter Changsha Railway Station in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)



A traveler carrying his belongings walks into the waiting hall at Taiyuan Railway Station in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)



A mother and her son have breakfast at Kunming South Railway Station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 14, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)

Much more information in the provided link



An Air China flight departs from Beijing to Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Jan 14, marking the commencement of this year's Spring Festival travel rush. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

China's aviation sector is witnessing an unprecedented surge in passenger demand as the annual Spring Festival travel rush began on Jan 14. Airlines are ramping up operations to cater to the booming international travel market during this 40-day travel peak, which concludes on Feb 22.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) forecasts daily passenger trips will surpass 2.25 million, supported by an average of 18,500 flights per day — a significant 8.4 percent increase compared to last year. Total passenger volume is expected to set new records, driven by growing demand for both domestic and international travel.



Passengers await boarding CA1405 in Beijing, a flight bound for Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Jan 14, the inaugural day of this year's Spring Festival travel rush. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]



Airline staff members assist passengers with check-in procedures, baggage handling, and special passenger services at Beijing Capital International Airport on Jan 14, the inaugural day of this year's Spring Festival travel rush. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Good to see you're still here, Popeye!

China's public transportation system is so much more advanced and efficient than it was just 10 years ago. No more massive crowds rushing to get on the train.

That's so nice. I want to go back home too.

Technicians maintain the bottom of a bullet train at a train depot in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jan. 17, 2025.

Maintenance of bullet trains is in full swing at a train depot in Hohhot to ensure safe travel during this year's Spring Festival travel rush. (All photos by Xinhua/Lian Zhen)




Staff members clean the surface of a bullet train at a train depot in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jan. 17, 2025.




Technicians inspect a bullet train at a train depot in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jan. 17, 2025.



A bullet train leaves a train depot after maintenance in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jan. 17, 2025.

Passengers dine aboard train K212 which travels from Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, to Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 13, 2025. As this year's Spring Festival travel rush began on Jan. 14, the Hangzhou passenger service unit of China Railway Shanghai Bureau Group Co., Ltd. has prioritized the improvement of passenger experience. Various efforts have been made, including arranging train chef exchanges, rolling out new dishes, and providing food order and delivery services. (All photos by Xinhua/Jiang Han)



Train chef Wang Limao works aboard train K212 which travels from Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, to Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 17, 2025.



A passenger dines aboard train K212 which travels from Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, to Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 13, 2025.



Train chefs discuss work aboard train K212 which travels from Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, to Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 17, 2025.



A train chef (1st L) with the Hangzhou passenger service unit of China Railway Shanghai Bureau Group Co., Ltd. discusses culinary skills with members of the chef team of the Wanghu Hotel in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec. 29, 2024.



Passengers try new dishes aboard train K212 which travels from Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, to Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 13, 2025.



A train attendant sells boxed meals aboard train K212 which travels from Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, to Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 17, 2025.

Student volunteer Kalbe Brai Madoue from Chad helps a passenger at the waiting hall of the Lanzhou West Railway Station in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 18, 2025. During this year's Spring Festival travel rush, busy staff members at Lanzhou West Railway Station are joined by a group of foreign students, who help passengers carry luggage, assist with security checks, and provide inquiry services.

This team of foreign student volunteers consists of 10 members from countries such as Kenya, Chad, Laos, Afghanistan and Madagascar, who are studying at Lanzhou University.

The volunteers, invited by the railway department, have been given the opportunity to feel the unique vibe of China's Spring Festival travel season.

"As the Spring Festival is around the corner, being a volunteer for the travel season and helping passengers return home for family reunions is a joyful experience to be proud of," said Kalbe Brai Madoue, a student from Chad. (All photos by Xinhua/Chen Bin)



Student volunteer Ali Reza Rezaie (C) from Afghanistan writes Spring Festival couplets with calligraphy lovers at Lanzhou West Railway Station in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 18, 2025.



Student volunteer Kalbe Brai Madoue (R) from Chad presents Spring Festival couplets to a child at Lanzhou West Railway Station in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 18, 2025.



Student volunteer Sylvia Ngaira (R) from Kenya presents Spring Festival couplets to passengers at Lanzhou West Railway Station in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 18, 2025.



Student volunteer Sylvia Ngaira (front, L) from Kenya helps passengers carry luggage at the Lanzhou West Railway Station in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 18, 2025.



Foreign student volunteers pose for photos with railway workers and passengers at Lanzhou West Railway Station in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 18, 2025.

Passengers board a train at Wuhan Railway Station in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 20, 2025. As this year's Spring Festival travel rush began on Jan. 14, China Railway Wuhan Bureau Group Co., Ltd. has scheduled to add 47 overnight high-speed trains daily towards major cities from Jan. 20 to 27, in an effort to better cater for passengers. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)



Passengers are seen at the waiting hall of Wuhan Railway Station in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)