Travel peaks as holiday ends

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-13-2008 08:30

Tuesday was the last day of China's New year holiday. Ahead of that, many have left their hometowns to return to their cities where they work. Now the country's transport system is bursting with its first travel peak of the year.

Passengers queue to enter the platform in the Lanzhou  railway station in northwest China's Gansu Province on  Feb. 12, 2008. China's post-Lunar New Year holiday travel  peak began to hit China's roads on Monday, with 44.6  million people traveling by bus, an increase of 16.5  million from the previous day, the Ministry of  Communications said Monday.(Xinhua Photo)

It's time to go back to work.

After a few days of rest, millions of Chinese have packed their bags and are heading off again to earn their living or chase their dreams.

On Tuesday alone, the railways transported about 50 million passengers.

Taiyuan Railway Station staff said, "According to Chinese tradition, people begin to travel after the fifth day of the new year. I think tickets for the next two days will be sold out."

Passengers queue to enter the platform in Lanzhou railway  station in northwest China's Gansu Province on Feb. 12,  2008.(Xinhua Photo)

The latest travel peak has put considerable pressure on the rail network, which has just recovered from snow storms.