Millions of Chinese have begun the annual exodus for the Lunar New
Year, the world's largest annual human migration, leaving major cities
to return to their hometowns for the holiday.
The most important holiday in the Chinese calendar places great
emphasis on family reunions, and travellers must get home by Monday to
usher in the Year of the Pig the following day.
At Beijing Railway Station early on Wednesday, thousands were milling
around in the cold, wrapped up in thick coats and wheeling their
luggage.
They included a group of children with brightly colored bags
emblazoned with cartoon characters, a stark contrast to the dark, wintry
morning.
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Readying for a 32-hour journey from Beijing to Huaihua in Hunan
province, central China, passengers kept themselves entertained on
mobile phones while sipping tea from flasks.
Many who bought standing-only tickets were perched on their luggage
along the aisle, or on tiny foldable stools sold on the Beijing
platform. Others dozed in their cramped seats.
In the sleeper cabins there was a buzz in the air, with families
chatting and sharing food and children playing along the corridors.
Rail operators expect some 413 million trips during this year's
holiday season, up 8.3 percent from a year ago, the official Xinhua news
agency reported.
Source - TheJakartaPost
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