China sees record nine billion trips over this Chinese New Year

BEIJING – China is gearing up for a record number of trips during the coming Chinese New Year and has vowed efforts to ensure safety as hundreds of millions of people take to the skies, roads and rails. “According to our estimation, a record high 9 billion trips will likely be made during the 40-day holiday travel period,” Vice-Transport Minister Li Yang said at a conference in Beijing on Jan 16. The next Chinese New Year, the Year of the Wood Dragon, is officially celebrated in mid-February, but the holiday rush will start from Jan 26 and last more than a month as workers in the cities travel home to visit family and friends. Driving will be the most popular…