Passengers prepare to travel at Beijing North Railway Station on Feb. 1, ahead of the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, which runs from Feb. 2 to March 13 and is expected to see a record 9.5 billion inter-regional trips nationwide. (Photo: China News Service/Jia Tianyong)

Passengers enter Beijing South Railway Station to board trains on Feb. 1, as China’s 2026 Spring Festival travel rush approaches. The 40-day travel period is expected to set a new historical high in passenger flows. (Photo: China News Service/Jia Tianyong)

Passengers pose at Beijing South Railway Station on Feb. 1, as China’s 2026 Spring Festival travel rush approaches. The 40-day travel period is expected to set a new historical high in passenger flows. (Photo: China News Service/Jia Tianyong)

Passengers enter Beijing South Railway Station to board trains on Feb. 1, as China’s 2026 Spring Festival travel rush approaches. The 40-day travel period is expected to set a new historical high in passenger flows. (Photo: China News Service/Jia Tianyong)