China Breaks Records with 9.5B Trips in Lunar New Year Rush

China’s Lunar New Year travel season, known as Chunyun, has reached historic numbers in 2026, solidifying its status as the world’s largest annual human migration. Authorities expect a record 9.5 billion domestic trips over a 40-day period from February 2 to March 13, surpassing 9.02 billion trips in 2025. This surge reflects the cultural importance of the Spring Festival, falling on February 17.

The projection includes movements across all modes of transport, including high-speed rail, highways, aviation, and waterways. Within the first week, more than 1.4 billion inter-regional trips were recorded, emphasizing the unprecedented volume of travel. The massive flow is centered around China’s megacities—Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou—where dense populations amplify demand on transport and urban infrastructure.

Transportation infrastructure faces extreme demand

The 2026 Chunyun rush is testing China’s transport systems like never before. High-speed railways are expected to carry over 540 million passengers, while civil aviation anticipates nearly 95 million flyers. Managing such volumes requires tight coordination across rail, road, air, and water transport networks to ensure safety and efficiency during peak travel periods.

Cultural tradition drives tourism and local economies

Chunyun is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, representing a period for family reunions and traditional celebrations. Millions of urban workers leave major cities for rural hometowns or regional visits, often blending family trips with leisure tourism. Popular destinations such as Hainan Island and Changbai Mountain experience spikes in hotel occupancy, local excursions, and cultural attraction attendance, creating significant economic benefits for regional businesses.

Long-haul bookings surge internationally

The Lunar New Year also sparks strong interest in international travel. According to Trip.com Group, cross-border bookings for week-long or longer trips increased nearly 40 percent year over year, while demand for long-haul travel jumped over 50 percent. Europe and Oceania have emerged as top choices for Asian travelers seeking holiday experiences abroad.

Norway captures attention of Asian tourists

Norway is experiencing exceptional growth, particularly among travelers from Singapore, with bookings soaring more than 200 percent year over year. Unique experiences, such as the Northern Lights, fjord cruises, and scenic train journeys are driving this interest. These trends reflect how Lunar New Year travel is increasingly combining cultural traditions with global leisure tourism, expanding the economic impact far beyond East Asia’s borders.

Photo by john xiao on Unsplash