Chunyun, China’s annual 40-day Lunar New Year migration, kicked off on Feb. 2 and is expected to generate a record 9.5 billion domestic trips. By Feb. 10 railways had carried 1.01 billion passengers and air travel reached 16.32 million flights in the first week. Popular domestic spots include Hainan and Changbai Mountain, while international travel to Thailand and Australia is rising; Russia opened visa-free travel to Chinese tourists in December 2025. The government also extended the Spring Festival holiday and broadened visa-free entry to more than 45 countries.
China’s Lunar New Year Travel Rush: Record 9.5 Billion Trips Expected During 40-Day Chunyun
Lion dancers perform ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations at a department store, in Bangkok, Thailand, February 15, 2026. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
China’s annual Lunar New Year migration — known as "Chunyun" — is underway, with hundreds of millions traveling across the country to reunite with family or take holidays. The surge is both a measure of consumer confidence and a major test of China’s transport network.
People interact with a dancer as traditional dragon dancers perform ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations at a department store, in Bangkok, Thailand, February 15, 2026. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
How Long Is the Travel Rush?
This year’s Chunyun began on Feb. 2 and runs for 40 days. The official Spring Festival public holidays (the core celebration period) fall from Feb. 15 to Feb. 23.
A man poses for a picture with lion dancers ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations at a department store, in Bangkok, Thailand, February 15, 2026. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
How Many Trips Are Expected?
Authorities are forecasting a record 9.5 billion domestic trips during the 40-day period, up from roughly 9.02 billion last year. The official totals increased after the transport ministry revised its methodology ahead of the 2023 New Year to include journeys on major national expressways.
A man reacts at a street food store with lanterns, ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse, in Beijing, China, February 15, 2026. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
How Are People Traveling?
By Feb. 10, China’s railways had carried 1.01 billion passengers since Chunyun began on Feb. 2. Air travel also surged in week one, with 16.32 million flights recorded by Feb. 8, against an expected 95 million flights for the whole 40-day period.
Top Destinations
Domestic demand is split between warm, tropical getaways such as the southern island province of Hainan and winter-sport hubs like Changbai Mountain in the northeast. Internationally, sunny destinations such as Thailand and Australia are growing in popularity. Russia has emerged as a new option after it introduced visa-free travel for Chinese tourists in December 2025, while demand for perennial favorite Japan has fallen amid strained ties.
What’s Different This Year?
The travel rush was given extra momentum after the government extended the official Spring Festival break by one day. Beijing also expanded its visa-free entry policy to more than 45 countries, allowing many visitors from Europe, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere to stay for up to 30 days without a visa.
Why It Matters: Chunyun is the world’s largest annual human migration and offers a snapshot of domestic consumer confidence, outbound travel interest and the resilience of China’s transport infrastructure under intense seasonal demand.
Reporting by Casey Hall; Editing by Clarence Fernandez.
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