The 2025 Spring Festival travel rush, known as Chunyun, officially wrapped up on Saturday, setting new records and showcasing the dynamic changes in China's mobility landscape. 🚀
Over the past 40 days, an astounding nine billion trips were made, marking the highest passenger volume in history. Railways and civil aviation saw passenger numbers soar past previous records, while maritime travel also hit new milestones with over 500 million domestic trips. This surge highlights not only China's growing mobility but also the expansion of its transportation networks. 🛤️✈️🚢
New travel habits emerged this year, fueled by an extended eight-day holiday. This longer break allowed more people to balance family reunions with travel adventures. Fang Ying from Lanzhou, Gansu Province, shared her excitement: \"The longer holiday gave me the chance to visit my family and take a skiing trip to Japan.\" ⛷️👨👩👧👦
The travel boom also boosted economic activity, reflecting China's vibrant growth. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the domestic tourism market saw a 5.9% year-on-year increase, with 501 million domestic trips made during the eight-day holiday from January 28 to February 4. Total spending on domestic tourism reached 677 billion yuan ($93.4 billion), a 7% increase from the previous year and a 31.7% jump from 2019. 💰📈
Cultural experiences and traditional activities also gained significant traction. With the Spring Festival's inclusion in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, visitors flocked to ancient architectural sites, cultural festivals, and local craft exhibitions. Events like Quanzhou's puppet shows, Shantou's Yingge dance, and the Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival in Shanghai have become must-see attractions for both locals and visitors. 🏮🎭
Reference(s):
China's grand Spring Festival travel rush ends with record numbers
cgtn.com
