Millions in China journey home for Lunar New Year
BEIJING — Millions in China were boarding trains, planes and automobiles Wednesday as the Lunar New Year travel rush, the world’s largest seasonal human migration, reached its climax.
China’s most important festival falls on Friday and people were travelling to either return to their hometowns or flock to vacation destinations. For many migrant workers in the country’s industrialized east, the holiday may be the only time of year they return home to see family and friends.
Weeks before the rush, many travellers had used smartphone apps to snatch up tickets that later sold out. Some train journeys between cities and rural areas last more than 20 hours, with passengers crowded into cabins that are standing room only.
The state railway operator reported Monday that 98.8 million people rode trains countrywide during the first 12 days of February. China’s official Xinhua news agency said more than 1.1 million were expected to pass through railway stations in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday alone.