China’s annual New Year travel rush is underway, with a predicted 9.5 billion journeys putting this year in the record books for the world’s biggest mass movement of people. Having started on 2 February and lasting 40 days, including an official Spring Festival public holiday from 15 to 23 February, the 2026 season is expected to see a 5.32% increase in traveller numbers year-on-year.
A major festival period celebrated in many Asian countries, such as China, Korea, and Vietnam, the Spring Festival or Chūnjié, heralds the beginning of a new lunisolar calendar year and is marked by visits to family and friends, fireworks, food, parades, and parties. This year’s New Year brings in the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac, thought to be a time of dynamic energy, independence, and ambition—characteristics Chinese authorities will want to see feeding into the economy.
@amazing_xiangyang This is the Chinese New Year, and this is how we celebrate it in China.这里是中国，这是中国人庆祝中国年的方式。#becomingchinese #Xiangyang #EchoesOfSpring #BeautifulCNY #YearOfHorse #SpringFestivalGifts #ChineseLunarNewYear #CHINESENEWYEAR2026 #ColorfulCNY #chinesenewyear2026🧧🧧🧨 ♬ 原聲 – Amazing china xiangyang
In the first week of the holiday to 10 February, China’s railways handled 1.01 billion passengers, surpassing predictions. Last year, the railways laid on four percent, or half a million, extra seat places to accommodate the demand.
Also included in the figures for the first time are road trips on major expressways, where over eight billion trips are expected. Meanwhile, airports handled 16.32 million to 8 February, out of an anticipated 95 million flights for the whole period.
Inbound international air travel to China in the two weeks to 10 February 2026 “surged by more than 400 percent year-on-year,” according to China Daily. Outbound international travel is also up this year, according to tour operators, who say the one-day extension that takes the holiday up to nine days is increasing bookings, especially to Thailand, Russia, and Australia, though demand for Japan is reportedly down. Domestic destinations proving popular include the southern island province of Hainan and the northeast’s Changbai Mountain resorts.
@lucky_in_guangzhou 🌟 Don't miss the Guangzhou Lantern Show 📍Yuexiu Park Jan 31- Mar 8 #guangzhoutravel #guangzhou #chinesenewyear #yuexiupark #lanternfestival ♬ original sound – lucky_in_guangzhou
Although the Asian markets have been described by France24 as “sluggish” going into the holiday period, Chinese economists are hoping for a surge in domestic consumption as people spend their holiday hongbao, a gift of money often presented in a red envelope and representing good fortune and blessings.
To boost that pocket money further, the government too has distributed 360m yuan ($52m) in consumer vouchers for February in a bid to drive up spending in a nation where a culture of saving means Chinese households set aside approximately a third of their income.
