Travelers take advantage of options as rush gets underway

Railways ready

Huang is one of millions of travelers in China taking advantage of more travel options. The Spring Festival travel rush, once a daunting challenge with limited modes of transportation for those returning home, has transformed into journeys filled with choices.

For instance, people who previously relied on long-distance buses can now choose between buses, high-speed rail and regular-speed trains. Similarly, those once limited to flights can now consider sleeper bullet trains, like Huang did.

On Tuesday, Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station buzzed with energy. Travelers lined up in orderly queues, clutching large bags packed with gifts and hopes of reunion. Families — some spanning three generations — waited together, excited for their journey home.

To handle the surge, the station added temporary trains to popular destinations such as Dalian, Liaoning province, and Harbin, Heilongjiang province.

"We've increased capacity, added temporary trains and enhanced services to ensure a smooth experience for travelers," said Wang Qiang, an official from the station.

This approach reflects railway authorities' nationwide efforts to manage the surge in passenger numbers.

Zhou Changfeng, an official from the China State Railway Group, said, "The national railway is expected to handle 510 million passenger trips during the travel rush, averaging 12.75 million daily — a 5.5 percent year-on-year increase. We prepared in advance by scientifically arranging transportation capacity, improving service quality, strengthening safety measures and enhancing emergency response capabilities."

He also noted that passenger capacity on popular routes has been increased, with additional temporary trains and nighttime high-speed rail services. Over 14,000 daily trains are operating nationwide, providing an additional 500,000 seats per day — a 4 percent year-on-year increase.

Discounted fares are also available on less popular routes, with regular-speed trains up to 80 percent off and bullet trains up to 70 percent off.

"For example, a second-class ticket from Shenyang in Liaoning province to Beijing on Jan 23 for train G996 costs 105 yuan, compared to the regular price of 349 yuan. Similarly, a hard-seat ticket from Kunming in Yunnan province to Shanghai South on train K4418 costs 53.5 yuan, down from the usual 278.5 yuan," Zhou said.

More flights scheduled

Airlines are also stepping up, with 18,354 flights scheduled on Tuesday to cater to the expected 2.04 million passenger trips. Popular routes between major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou in Guangdong province and Chengdu in Sichuan province are seeing high demand, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

At Beijing Capital International Airport, the atmosphere was equally dynamic. The airport hall hummed with constant movement. The sound of rolling luggage wheels echoed as passengers hurried in every direction, their faces a mix of anticipation and urgency.

During the travel rush, the airport expects to handle 7.95 million passenger trips, a 6.8 percent year-on-year increase.

New services, such as a counter offering everything from SIM cards to free half-day tours for international passengers, add to the airport's appeal, according to Feng Liwei, operations duty manager at the airport's operations control center.