So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts

By Bridget O'Donnell, January 16, 2017

3 0

China's annual Spring Festival travel rush is officially here.

Images of passengers swarming train stations have begun circulating as the 40-day-long chunyun period, the world's largest annual human migration, kicked off last week. The number of passenger journeys in China this Spring Festival travel season is expected to reach 2.98 billion, according to China News Network

Spring Festival falls on January 28 this year, but the chunyun travel period typically starts a fortnight before New Year's Eve. 

Train station Wuhan
Trains set for travel on Friday, January 13 in Wuhan.

Jinan railway station
Passengers outside Jinan station in Shandong.

Chengdu
A game of cards is played among travelers in Chengdu.

Chengdu

So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts

So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts

So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts

So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts

CNY Chunyun

So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts

So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts

So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts
Passengers in Yinchuan, Ningxia on their way to Beijing.

So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts

Beijing to Chongqing
Passengers in Beijing on their way to Chongqing.

Beijing to Chongqing

Beijing to Chongqing

So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts

So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts

So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts

So It Begins: Travelers Swarm Train Stations as CNY Rush Starts

Chinese New Year Travel
Passengers at Taiyuan station.

waiting-for-trains-in-guangzhou-cny-2017-4.jpg
Apparently some people in Guangzhou didn’t know that scissors and knives aren’t allowed on the train…

waiting-for-trains-in-guangzhou-cny-2017-3.jpg

waiting-for-trains-in-guangzhou-cny-2017-1.jpg
Men playing cards while waiting for the next train out of Guangzhou.

Guangzhou

waiting-for-trains-in-guangzhou-cny-2017-2.jpg

Shenzhen
Passengers on a train departing from Shenzhen arrange their luggage.

READ MORE: China, Here Are Your 2017 Public Holidays

[Images via China Daily, Xinhua, iFeng, Tencent News]

more news

6 International Movies Hitting Chinese Cinemas This June

Your perfect Children's Day or Father's Day treat!

Explainer: Zhao Jing Turns Dragon Boat Festival Into a Parade

How it brings villages alive during Dragon Boat Festival

Explainer: Why Dragon Boat Festival Means a Feast in Guangdong

In South China, Dragon Boats mean it's time to eat!

6 International Movies Hitting Chinese Cinemas This May

From Marvel's latest ensemble to timeless anime classics!

0 User Comments

In Case You Missed It…

We're on WeChat!

Scan our QR Code at right or follow us at Thats_Shanghai for events, guides, giveaways and much more!

7 Days in Shanghai With thatsmags.com

Weekly updates to your email inbox every Wednesday

Download previous issues

Never miss an issue of That's Shanghai!

Visit the archives