The 2025 Spring Festival travel rush, known as Chunyun, concluded on Saturday, marking a historic milestone with an unprecedented 9.025 billion cross-regional trips over the 40-day period. This sets a new record in China’s holiday travel history.
According to data from the Chinese Transport Ministry, between January 14 and February 22, the nation witnessed significant increases across all modes of transportation. Railway passengers reached 513.6 million, while highway travel saw a staggering 8.39 billion movements. Waterway passengers numbered 31.15 million, and air travel accounted for 90.19 million trips.
Several factors contributed to this surge. An earlier Lunar New Year’s Eve, combined with an extended holiday period, prompted many to embark on their journeys sooner than in previous years. The holiday break also saw a notable rise in tourism and self-driving trips, intensifying travel activity across the country.
Post-holiday return journeys experienced two significant peaks. On February 3, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, daily trips reached a high of 339 million. Another surge occurred on February 13, with trips exceeding 215 million.
These record-breaking figures reflect China’s growing travel demand and the evolving dynamics of its transportation landscape during its most significant annual migration period. As the nation continues to develop, such trends highlight the increasing mobility and economic vitality among its people.
