China’s 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, or chunyun, is set to break all records, with inter-regional passenger trips expected to reach an astonishing 9.5 billion, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). This travel surge, spanning from February 2 to March 13, marks a significant milestone in the country’s transportation landscape.
The 40-day period, traditionally the busiest travel time of the year in China, will see a dominant mode of transport: self-driving. This method is anticipated to account for approximately 80% of all trips, as millions of Chinese citizens return home to celebrate the festival with family.
Railway and Aviation Surge
The railway network will play a crucial role in accommodating the influx of passengers. It is expected to handle 540 million trips during the rush, while the civil aviation sector is forecast to manage 95 million passenger journeys. Both of these sectors are expected to surpass previous historical peaks, signaling the growing demand for efficient travel options.
Li Chunlin, deputy director of the NDRC, emphasized that both the scale and daily peak passenger volumes for railways and civil aviation are projected to exceed all previous records. To handle this increased demand, China’s railway network is set to operate more than 14,000 passenger trains during the busiest days. This represents a 5.3% year-on-year increase in passenger capacity.
The civil aviation industry is also stepping up its game by adding more flights to key airports and popular tourist destinations. The daily flight volume is expected to average 19,400 flights, marking a 5% year-on-year growth and ensuring more travel options for the public during the peak period.
Transport Infrastructure Optimized
Efforts to improve transport infrastructure are at the forefront of the country’s strategy for handling the massive passenger volume. With the NDRC’s plans to increase flight and train availability, travelers will have more opportunities to make their journeys efficiently. This optimized capacity aims to mitigate congestion and provide smoother travel experiences during the highly anticipated Spring Festival period.
