China Kick off Spring Festival with Fewer Passenger Trips
China kicked off its largest annual travel season on Thursday with far fewer passenger trips expected amid stringent epidemic control measures. In the 40-day travel season, many people will travel to reunite with their families for the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 12 this year. The China State Railway on […]
China kicked off its largest annual travel season on Thursday with far fewer passenger trips expected amid stringent epidemic control measures.
In the 40-day travel season, many people will travel to reunite with their families for the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 12 this year.
The China State Railway on Wednesday reconfirmed its adjusted forecast for railway passenger trips during this year’s travel season, down from 407 million to 296 million.
The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 54 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 41 locally transmitted ones, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Thursday.
To reduce the flow of personnel and curb the spread of the epidemic, many places across China have encouraged residents and migrant workers to stay put to celebrate the festival.
Miao Biao, a migrant worker in Hefei, capital of east China’s Anhui Province, said it would be his first time in 11 years to spend the holiday in Hefei instead of his hometown of Fuyang.
“My parents have bought red couplets and lanterns as festival decorations. We’ve decided to video chat with our relatives and distribute digital lucky money via WeChat,” said Miao, 30.
According to the appliance maker Whirlpool China, where Miao works, about one-fourth of its 2,600 workers have chosen not to return to their hometown during the holiday.
The company will grant them cash rewards, holiday gifts as well as a three-day vacation for a home visit in April, while also reimbursing their travel expenses, said Lu Tao, vice president of human resources for Whirlpool China.
Many local authorities and companies have rolled out measures to provide better benefits to those staying put.
Hangzhou, capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province, has launched a plan to distribute 1,000 yuan to each migrant worker who chooses to stay in the city.
Migrant workers who remain in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, can enjoy free visits to over 10 major local tourist attractions during the holiday.
