China sees record numbers in annual exodus
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China’s annual massive homeward migration before the Chinese New Year holiday is underway earlier than usual this year and the number of travellers looks set to hit a record high, a report said.
In previous years, the Chinese New Year travel rush typically begins 11 days before the start of the festival – which falls on 26 January this year.
The Straits Times, quoting data from the transportation authorities, said there has been a gradual but marked increase in passenger flow starting last month, about a month in advance of the usual rush.
It said Beijing West railway Station, for instance, logged 130,000 departure passengers on 1 January – 38,000 more than the daily average.
In total passengers will make some 2.32 billion journeys over this Chinese New Year period, an increase of 3.5% from last year, the report said, quoting the National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s top economic planning agency.
According to the report, the Railway Ministry expects 188 million people to travel by train, up 8% from last year. A further two billion road trips would be made, it said.
The paper, quoting experts, said this year’s heavier and earlier travel surge was mainly due to the economic slump and job losses among the migrant worker population.
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