China’s Lunar New Year Travel Surge Defies Economic Challenges


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BEIJING — The yearly travel surge for China’s Lunar New Year festivities officially commenced on Tuesday, as numerous individuals took a break from their concerns about the future to reconnect with family or enjoy a holiday.

The peak travel period in the world’s second-largest economy initiated with a train leaving from Beijing shortly after midnight, transporting early travelers from the capital to Hefei in eastern Anhui province.

Most individuals aspire to gather with family for the customary reunion dinner on the eve of the New Year, which occurs on Jan. 29 this year.

The 40-day travel period will last until Feb. 22, during which officials anticipate a record-breaking 9 billion domestic journeys will occur. The prediction aligns with the estimate for 2024, despite only 8.4 billion trips being recorded during last year’s celebrations.

Railway passenger volume is projected to surpass 510 million travelers, with over 90 million passengers expected to use air travel. Nevertheless, the number of trips by private vehicle is likely to hit 7.2 billion journeys, approximately 80% of the total domestic passenger traffic, according to national television broadcaster CCTV.

A majority of China’s 1.4 billion inhabitants will be observing this year’s Lunar New Year, also referred to as the Spring Festival, at a moment when the economy is battling to maintain a sustainable recovery restrained by low domestic demand and a protracted property market downturn.

Some travelers expressed their determination not to let the condition of the economy dampen the forthcoming celebrations.

“Even though the economy has slowed, I believe the nation as a whole is considering (the economic situation) and we, as everyday people, are managing well (from day to day),” stated Wang Zhixu, a 55-year-old employed in property management services, who was present at the station in Beijing.

“Stability within our country brings us the greatest joy.”

Air travelers who purchased multi-destination tickets for the holiday season increased by 50% compared to last year, and hotel reservations in certain regions have also risen, CCTV reported.

Beijing, Guangzhou, Harbin, Dali, and Fuzhou emerged as popular spots for tourists taking advantage of the eight-day public holiday.

However, for young individuals seeking employment, the perspective is starkly different.

Shi Zhenyue, 22, traveling to Harbin for a vacation with friends before proceeding to Wuxi in eastern Jiangsu province to celebrate the New Year with family, hoped for economic improvement so she could enter the workforce.

“If the economy improves (in the new year), I will have a better chance of securing a job, and I won’t need to return to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree. And if the economy enhances, my father’s bonus (from work) won’t be reduced by half. Everything else is satisfactory,” Shi commented.

Youth unemployment reached 18.8% last August, the highest since authorities revised the method of calculating the figures in December 2023. Although unemployment statistics have shown some progress in recent months, millions of graduates have been pushed into accepting lower-paying jobs or even relying on their parents’ pensions.

Many have also opted to relinquish the pressures of metropolitan life for a simpler existence away from the chaos.

For 33-year-old He, residing in northeastern Liaoning province with her fiancé, the slower lifestyle is a source of relief.

“As we are not in a large city like many others, we may not experience as much stress,” remarked the small business owner, who only provided her surname.

“We had also lived in a big city for some time after graduation, and then we made the decision to return to our hometown, which we feel is more welcoming and happier,” she shared.


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