STORY: What to watch about China's Spring Festival travel rush
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Jan. 24, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:44
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Spring Festival travel rush
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHU WENZHONG, China State Railway Group

STORYLINE:

Chunyun, the world's largest annual human migration, officially kicked off on Jan. 14 in China ahead of the Spring Festival.

Authorities predict travel volumes will hit new highs during the 40-day travel rush.

It is estimated that 9 billion passenger trips will be made, with car journeys accounting for 80 percent.

Railway trips are projected to surpass 510 million.

An official said that the vast railway network, the backbone of China's transport system in handling with Spring Festival travel rush, has further improved its coverage and capacity.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHU WENZHONG, China State Railway Group
"First, the railway network has become more expansive. China's railway network now spans 160,000 km, including 48,000 km of high-speed rail. This has greatly enhanced the accessibility and coverage of rail transport during the Spring Festival travel rush.
Second, capacity has significantly increased. During this year's Spring Festival travel rush, we can operate up to 14,000 trains per day, with a seating capacity exceeding 10 million, nearly a one-third increase compared to five years ago.
Third, purchasing tickets has become much more convenient. Based on this year's pre-sale data, over 93% of tickets were purchased online, making it far easier for passengers to secure tickets compared to before.
Fourth, travel is now more seamless. Railway station and train facilities have seen significant improvements, creating a more integrated travel system that enhances convenience in areas like transfers and connections.
Finally, there are now more diverse travel options. Whether by air, road, or rail, the overall capacity of the transportation network has greatly improved, offering passengers a wider range of choices."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)