China's Spring Season Transport Period StartsChina's annual Spring Festival holiday season began Tuesday and will end in February 17.Known as the Spring Season Transport period, the peak time occurs before and after Spring Festival, and is the most important traditional holiday for Chinese people. Those traveling are usually laborers, college students in their winter holidays and people working elsewhere on their way home. In recent years an increasing number of people have traveled during the period. According to sociologists the increased number of travelers is attributed to increasing regional economic exchange and improved living conditions. The Chinese Government fixes an appropriate time for the Spring Season Transport period every year, within which the country's transport system will increase efforts to ensure that the period runs smoothly. China's transport departments predicted that during the 40-day period, the passenger transport volume will reach 1.66 billion arrivals and departures, up 2.7 percent over last year. Information from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China£¨CAAC£© predicts that a total of 7.3 million passengers are to travel by plane during the period, up 3.3 percent on an annual basis. It is predicted that the major aviation passenger flow will occur in east and south China, however, northeastern China will also become a popular destination this year. The sector will add temporary flights when necessary. Air China, for instance, has arranged 769 additional and charted flights. China Southern Airlines will provide 1,412 additional flights. China's highways and waterways are expected to carry 1.49 billion passengers and 29 million passengers, respectively, in the period. The railway passenger transport volume will reach 134 million passengers, up five percent. The Ministry of Railways will offer more additional passenger trains than last year, and tighten control over nation-wide ticket sales. China's public security and traffic administrative departments will enhance supervision and examination over drivers and vehicles engaged in long-distance transportation. |
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