China is preparing for unprecedented inter-regional mobility during the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, with authorities projecting a 5% year-on-year increase in railway journeys to 539 million trips. The 40-day chunyun period, running from February 2 to March 13, will test transportation networks as families reunite and workers return home ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations on February 17.
Road travel is expected to account for the majority of movements, according to Wednesday's interagency coordination meeting. The Civil Aviation Administration of China simultaneously forecasts a record 95 million air passenger trips, reflecting growing middle-class demand for efficient holiday travel.
China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. announced enhanced scheduling measures to accommodate the surge, while transportation authorities emphasized preparedness for extreme weather events that frequently disrupt winter travel. The coordinated planning follows lessons learned from previous chunyun periods, particularly regarding crowd management and COVID-era operational adjustments.
