How China copes with Chunyun

BEIJING: Millions of Chinese people are heading home to see in the lunar new year, or the Year of the Rooster.

It is the most important holiday in the country. Office workers usually get a week’s holiday, labourers about two weeks, and students an even longer winter break known as Chunyun, or Spring Festival .

The Ministry of Transport said 2.98 billion trips will be made during the 40-day period, up 2.2 percent from last year.

How China manages this tremendous human migration:

– The tides of Chunyun typically have two peaks. As this year’s Spring Festival falls on January 28, the peaks are expected on January 25 when people leave for home and on February 2 when they return for work. College students and 270 million migrant workers are the main travellers. People move from the booming eastern and southern coasts, as well as Beijing, to inland cities, towns, and villages before the new year.

A reverse trend occurs about a week after the holiday. Travel by road, rail, air, and sea represents 84.6 percent, 12 percent, 2 percent, and 1.4 percent respectively of the total trips, according to the Ministry of Transport estimates.

– Although more people travel by bus, the strain has been acutely felt by the railway system – the most affordable and practical mode of transport for long-distance travel. A total of 356 million train trips will be made during this year’s travel rush. China Railway Corporation says 3 570 pairs of trains are in service and an additional 1 264 pairs will be added as temporary support. More than 65 percent of train trips are being served by high-speed trains that can run up to more than 300km/h.

– With the development of fast trains, tickets can now be booked in person, on the phone, or more commonly through websites and mobile phone apps. People can book tickets online about 30 days before they travel. Most of the booking is done via the railway company’s official website. Though the site crashed under enormous traffic in the first year it was launched, improved technical support has enabled it to withstand subsequent tests. This has put an end to the typical occurence of migrant worker armies camping out in front of major stations’ ticketing halls as seen in past Chunyuns.

– To fast- track check-in, some stations have started using facial recognition technology to verify passenger identities. Beijing Western Railway Station, for example, set up six automatic check-in lanes. Passengers insert their ticket and ID card into a machine and have a photo taken for verification. The process takes five seconds.

– Even for many who take the train, they often need to switch to roads to reach homes in faraway towns and villages. Buses and private vehicles have a key role to play. The country’s largest online car-hailing company says travellers can make good use of its car-pooling service that allows those going home to take a ride in private cars travelling in the same direction.

– Air travel is the last resort, for the privileged. Tickets during the Chunyun travel rush are sold without discounts. – Xinhua