China initiated its monumental annual Spring Festival travel period on Monday, marking the beginning of a 40-day mass migration phenomenon known as chunyun. The transportation network across railways, highways, airports, and seaports witnessed unprecedented activity as millions embarked on journeys to reunite with families for the Lunar New Year celebrations.
At Beijing West Railway Station, construction worker Liu experienced a moment of profound emotion as his train, K4069, departed precisely at 12:40 am. This special temporary service connecting the capital with Nanchang, Jiangxi province, represented the inaugural chunyun departure from Beijing. ‘After working tirelessly throughout the year, I’m finally returning home,’ Liu expressed. ‘The knowledge that this is Beijing’s first chunyun train makes the journey exceptionally meaningful.’
Transportation authorities reported staggering statistics for the travel rush’s commencement day, with approximately 188 million cross-regional trips recorded nationwide—a notable 13% increase compared to the previous year. Rail systems managed roughly 12 million passenger journeys, while civil aviation facilitated about 2.19 million trips. Road transportation dominated the travel patterns, reflecting the growing preference among Chinese citizens for private vehicle travel during the holiday period.
The 2026 Spring Festival travel period, which commenced on February 3rd, will continue through March 13th, with the actual Lunar New Year falling on February 17th. This annual migration represents the largest human movement globally, demonstrating both the enduring cultural significance of family reunions and China’s continuously evolving transportation infrastructure capabilities.