Analysts believe the surge in travel is due to a combination of family gatherings during the long holidays and demand for tourism.

According to Chinese authorities, road travel by private vehicle will continue to be the primary mode of transportation and is expected to account for approximately 80% of all interregional trips.

Rail passenger traffic is expected to total 540 million journeys, and civil aviation passenger traffic is expected to be around 95 million. Both overall volumes and daily maximums are expected to exceed previous records.

Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, will be celebrated on February 17 this year. The official holiday will last nine days, but the travel rush is expected to continue until March 13.

The Spring Festival remains one of the most important family gatherings in China, and authorities are ramping up transportation capacity, especially at major hub airports, to ensure safe and smooth travel during the busy season.

Earlier, the Kajinform News Agency reported that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has registered the Chinese New Year’s social custom, the Chinese New Year, on the list of representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.