China's railway network has transported 258 million passengers during the first half of the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, marking one of the busiest seasonal migrations in modern history. With Sunday's figures showing 17.19 million single-day trips, authorities are deploying 2,203 additional trains to manage the unprecedented demand as families reunite for Lunar New Year celebrations.
The China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. reports sustained high travel volumes, forecasting 17.93 million journeys for February 22. Enhanced services include upgraded station facilities and expanded digital ticketing options, ensuring smooth operations during this critical cultural period that runs through March 13.
This year's chunyun period holds special significance as the first post-pandemic Spring Festival with unrestricted travel across the Chinese mainland. Railway staff have implemented round-the-clock operations and AI-powered crowd management systems at major hubs like Beijing West and Shanghai Hongqiao stations.
The Spring Festival travel phenomenon underscores China's transportation modernization efforts, with newly operational high-speed routes reducing journey times between key cities. As the world's largest annual human migration continues, analysts observe its growing economic impact on regional tourism and consumer spending patterns.
