Thousands of migrant workers in China's southern Guangdong province have started their journey back home on motorcycles on Friday, the first day of this year's Spring Festival travel rush.

Thousands of migrant workers in China's southern Guangdong province start their journey back home on motorcycles on January 13, 2017, the first day of this year's Spring Festival travel rush. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

As early as 8 a.m. on Friday, hundreds of migrant workers were waiting at Sinopec's Longshan gasoline station in Foshan city, Guangdong province.

10,000 motorcyclists who registered in advance can refuel at the station and get some clothes, medicine, hot water and rain ponchos for free.

Motorcyclists get their vehicles fueled at Sinopec's Longshan gasoline station in Foshan city, Guangdong province for free before heading home. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

Every year, more than 400,000 migrant workers in the province choose to ride home on motorcycles since it is too difficult to purchase a train ticket during the world's largest travel flow and the cost of ridding motorcycle is much lower.

40% of the riders also take their family home by motorcycle, but this year, the family members can take a "love bus" back home, a part of a charity program which is sponsored by China's energy giant Sinopec.

Motorcyclists can also refuel at 238 Sinopec gasoline stations in Guangdong and Guangxi for free, where free mother-and-baby rooms, lounges, and motor maintenance tools are also available.

Thousands of migrant workers queue at Longshan gasoline station in Foshan city, Guangdong province to get their vehicle fueled for free. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

Most of the motorcyclists are from surrounding regions. Those living in neighboring Guangxi can get home in a couple of hours. For those living in Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan and Jiangxi, the journey will take as long as four days.

The Spring Festival is considered one of the most important holidays in China, and is often the only time migrant workers can return home all year to spend time with their families.