Travelers walk towards the departure hall to catch their trains at the Beijing West Railway Station ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
China's Lunar New Year travel rush has kicked into high gear, with billions of trips expected in coming days for the peak of the 40-day annual mass migration — the world's biggest annual movement of humanity.
The actual new year holiday, which marks the start of the year of the snake in the 12-month lunar calendar, comes on Wednesday, while New Year’s Eve on Tuesday is reserved for family gatherings and traditionally fireworks displays.
Many began traveling on Jan. 14 and the rush reaches a peak over the weekend. In total, 9 billion trips — mostly by car — are expected over the 40-day travel rush.
Trips by train will surpass 510 million, with another 90 million traveling by air.
Travelers wait inside a bullet train at the Beijing West Railway Station ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
A traveler carries a baby at the departure hall as they try to catch their trains at the Beijing West Railway Station ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
Travelers sit at the waiting area at the departure hall to catch their trains at the Beijing West Railway Station ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
Travelers rush at the departure hall to catch their trains at the Beijing West Railway Station ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
Beijing West Railway Station on Jan, 24, 2025.
A security person watches travelers at the Beijing West Railway Station as families travel back home ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
A woman carries a boy as they wait to board their train at the Beijing West Railway Station as families travel back home ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
