From the "Changes" in Spring Travel Season, Observing China's Vibrant Economic Vitality

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 14 (Reporter Zheng Xin, Li Daixiang) — The 40-day Spring Festival travel rush officially concluded on the 13th. Latest data shows that this year’s Spring Festival travel season is expected to see a total cross-regional passenger flow of 9.4 billion trips, setting a new record high.

Since its inception over 70 years ago, the concept of “Spring Festival travel” has witnessed significant changes. The increasing number of travelers and evolving transportation methods not only demonstrate the vibrant development of a mobile China but also mark the solid footprints of individuals resonating with the times.

Green Train → Motorcycle → High-Speed Rail → Self-Driving

In the 1950s, the former Ministry of Railways established the Spring Festival Passenger Transport Office, giving rise to the concept of “Spring Festival travel.”

Shortly after the reform and opening-up, green trains were the main mode of travel during the Spring Festival. Long queues for tickets at train stations, crowded carriages—these classic scenes remain vivid in people’s memories.

Tickets for Spring Festival trains were often hard to come by, leading to the rise of motorcycle convoys. Workers in southeastern coastal areas would bundle up tightly and race in groups along national roads, leaving behind a trail of riding figures rushing home for reunions in the long history of Spring Festival travel.

On March 13, travelers depart from Wuxi Railway Station in Jiangsu. Xinhua News Agency photo (Photographer: Huan Yue Liang)

The advent of high-speed rail redefined the spatial and temporal distances of Spring Festival travel. As the high-speed rail network expanded, the once-dominant motorcycle convoys from coastal provinces to inland areas gradually faded away.

Rising living standards have made cars increasingly common in ordinary households, making self-driving travel more popular. Latest data shows that during the 40-day Spring Festival travel period, road passenger flow is expected to reach 8.7 billion trips, a new high.

From slow green trains to roaring motorcycle convoys, from high-speed trains to dense self-driving groups, transportation tools have upgraded and diversified, boosting people’s confidence to travel spontaneously and witnessing China’s economic vitality.

From “Saving Money, Getting There” to “Peace of Mind, Traveling Well”

In the past, many prioritized “saving money and making it” when traveling; now, more people focus on “peace of mind and a good journey.” Such changes in travel habits are hard-won.

In 2016, China issued the “Medium- and Long-Term Railway Network Plan.” The plan proposed that by 2025, the railway network would reach approximately 175,000 kilometers, including about 38,000 kilometers of high-speed rail. By 2030, the goal is to achieve basic connectivity within and outside the country, inter-regional multi-route accessibility, high-speed rail links to provincial capitals, rapid access to cities, and comprehensive coverage of counties.

The blueprint has moved from paper to reality, with the “eight vertical and eight horizontal” high-speed rail network extending across China. By 2021, high-speed rail covered all 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. By the end of 2025, the total high-speed rail operating mileage will surpass 50,000 kilometers. The extensive high-speed rail network makes Spring Festival travel smoother, turning the “4-hour economic circle” and “2-hour living circle” from dreams into reality.

Traffic flows on the Nansha Bridge in Guangdong and ships navigating the Shiziyang Waterway. Xinhua News Agency photo (Photographer: Liu Dawei)

The world’s largest highway network, increasingly dense air routes, and revitalized urban and rural roads form a three-dimensional, efficient transportation system.

Trains speed by, planes take off and land, vehicles flow, ships come and go—these facilitate China’s high-quality economic development and lay a solid foundation for the travel needs of hundreds of millions.

This global largest-scale migration during Spring Festival not only witnesses the convenience and speed of travel but also reflects the rapid progress of the country’s development.

Spring Festival Travel Witnesses the Path of Development

When people are no longer satisfied with just reaching their destination but seek comfortable and convenient journeys, Spring Festival travel becomes more than just smooth flow of people and goods; it becomes a comprehensive test of transportation capacity, governance, and service quality.

By increasing infrastructure investment, expanding emerging technology applications, and improving service levels, China has found solutions and is making great strides to catch up with the eras of industrialization and informatization, moving toward becoming a strong transportation nation.

On February 11, migrant workers from Zaozhuang are prioritized for ticket checking at Shanghai Station. Xinhua News Agency photo (Photographer: Wang Xiang)

Big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence—technology empowerment makes capacity scheduling more scientific, and service systems are continuously upgraded. The railway 12306 online ticketing platform has eliminated the need to queue in the cold for tickets; real-name registration and standby ticket functions make purchasing more transparent and efficient; electronic tickets, seat selection, and facial recognition entry services make every stage of travel smoother.

Convenient services are available at train stations, bus terminals, and airports, with volunteer services upgraded, medical staff on duty, making travel safer and more comfortable.

Each Spring Festival journey is a warm, ongoing story of travel, and every arrival accumulates strength for the next departure. Amid the relentless wheels of Spring Festival travel, people are busy returning and going, with both origins and destinations. The steady pace not only measures the distance of reunion but also beats strongly with China’s economic growth.