Beijing (CNS) – About 3.1 billion Chinese will travel to their hometown destinations next month when the 3-day national holiday for New Year and Spring Festival vacation week coincide on the calandar. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced its prediction for the volume of the annual mass movement on November 8.
China's transportation system will be under massive pressure as usual as this holiday always triggers a homing beacon for far-flung family members. It is predicted the 3.1 plus billion will travel between January 8 and February 16, a period of about 40 days. This is a 9.1 percent increase over last year.
The railway will carry over 235 million of these travelers, up 6.1 percent over last year's passenger load; and about 2.8 billion people will choose to travel by road, or 9.5 percent more than last year. The waterways will transport 43.5 million homecomers, only a 3 percent increase. Nearly 35.8 million will travel by air, up 7 percent over 2011.
