As of 9 a.m. on Saturday, over 311 million train tickets have been sold via China's train ticket booking platform 12306 for the 2025 Spring Festival travel rush, according to the country's railway operator.
The Spring Festival travel rush, known locally as chunyun, is in full swing across China. This year's travel rush began on January 14 and will last until February 22, spanning 40 days in total. Authorities are anticipating an unprecedented nine billion cross-regional passenger trips during this period.
The Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, is the most significant traditional holiday in China, leading to the world's largest annual human migration as people return to their hometowns to reunite with family. The surge in ticket sales reflects the eagerness of the population to celebrate the festival with loved ones.
The railway operator has implemented measures to accommodate the massive influx of travelers, ensuring safety and efficiency in operations. Enhanced services and additional trains have been scheduled to meet the soaring demand.
Travelers can book tickets through the 12306 platform, which has been upgraded to handle the heavy traffic and provide a smoother user experience. The platform's success in managing over 300 million ticket sales highlights its critical role in facilitating nationwide travel during this peak season.
With authorities expecting nine billion passenger trips, the 2025 Spring Festival travel rush is set to break records and underscore the vitality of China's transportation network.
Reference(s):
Over 300m train tickets sold for 2025 Spring Festival travel rush
cgtn.com
