China’s 2026 Spring Festival travel rush begins, domestic trips set to hit record 9.5 billion

China’s annual Spring Festival travel rush will begin on Monday, with inter-regional trips expected to hit a record 9.5 billion.

The surge is driven by overlapping demand for family reunions and tourism during a longer holiday, analysts said.

Road travel by private cars is expected to remain dominant, accounting for roughly 80 percent of inter-regional trips, according to authorities.

Passenger volumes on railways and civil aviation are forecast at 540 million and 95 million, respectively, with both total traffic and daily peak flows expected to surpass previous records.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, falls on Feb. 17 this year. The official holiday lasts nine days, with the travel rush running through March 13.

As the festival is one of the country’s most important occasions for family reunions, authorities are boosting capacity, particularly at major transport hubs, to ensure safe and smooth travel for all passengers.