Spring Festival sees railway trips surge

A total of 94.79 million trips were made on trains between Jan. 16 and the eve of the Chinese Spring Festival, up 14.4 percent compared to the corresponding period last year, data from railway authorities showed on Friday. Trains are the major choice for especially long-haul travels in the country. Travel demand normally surges each year before the eve of the Spring Festival, the most important traditional Chinese festival. This year's "chun yun," or travel peak during the Spring Festival, began on Jan. 16 and will end on Feb. 24. Railway auothorities said 4.08 million trips were made on trains on Spring Festival Eve. Meanwhile, they forecast 2.3 million trips will be made on Friday, the New Year's Day on Chinese lunar calendar.