China's Spring Festival travel rush: The world's largest annual migration.

The wave of travel during the Lunar New Year in China, also known as Spring Festival travel, is in full swing, continuing to be considered the world's largest annual migration and reflecting the health of the economy and the operational capacity of the country's national transportation system.

The total number of domestic trips during the Lunar New Year holiday in China could reach a record 9.5 billion, up from approximately 9.02 billion in 2025. (Source: Baidu)

This year, the peak travel season started on February 2nd and lasted for 40 days, while the official Lunar New Year holiday took place from February 15th to 23rd.

Chinese officials predict that the total number of domestic trips could reach a record 9.5 billion, up from around 9.02 billion in 2025.

In addition, the country's railway system served over 1 billion passengers in just over a week during the peak period, while air transport recorded over 16 million passengers in the first week. The total number of air passengers during the entire peak period is expected to reach approximately 95 million.

Travel businesses predict that this year's travel trends will see many changes as the holiday period is extended by one day, bringing the total vacation time to nine days.

Domestically, tourists primarily choose two groups of destinations with contrasting climates. Tropical regions like Hainan Island attract many visitors seeking refuge from the cold, while winter sports destinations like Changbai Mountain appeal to tourists who enjoy skiing and snow experiences.

Lunar New Year is China's biggest holiday. (Source: Baidu)

The demand for overseas travel has also increased significantly, especially to destinations with warm climates such as Thailand and Australia.

Furthermore, Russia has emerged as a new ideal destination after implementing a visa-free policy for Chinese tourists from the end of 2025. Meanwhile, the number of tourists to Japan has decreased significantly due to strained bilateral relations.

Observers believe that this year's peak travel season is further fueled by China's expanded visa-free policy for citizens of nearly 50 countries, allowing stays of up to 30 days. This policy not only contributes to stimulating international tourism but is also expected to boost economic , cultural, and trade exchanges during the post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery period.

With its massive scale of travel, the Spring Festival travel rush continues to be a major test of China's transportation infrastructure and operational capacity, while also reflecting the consumption trends and economic recovery of the world's second-largest economy in the new year.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/xuan-van-cua-trung-quoc-cuoc-di-cu-thuong-nien-lon-nhat-the-gioi-360193.html