China enters peak travel season ahead of Lunar New Year

China has entered its peak travel season ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year. The railways are expected to transport 210 million passengers in the coming 40 days.

In southwest China's Chongqing municipality, railway tickets to Shanghai and Hangzhou are all sold out. The local government is advising people to book tickets over the phone or online. It's a similar situation in most big cities across China.

The Spring Festival travel season provides an annual test of China's transportation systems. This year, it's expected travellers will make an unprecedented 2.5 billion journeys up 7.7 percent on last year.

Spring Festival is the most important Chinese holiday for family reunions. People return home from work or study to have a dinner with families on the Chinese New Year's Eve. This year, the Lunar New Year falls on February 14th.

China has entered its peak travel season ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year. The railways are expected to transport 210 million passengers in the coming 40 days.