Highways start to clog, railway tickets sell out and airfares soar

Stacy Shi

Traffic congestion has intensified as the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, with reports indicating that travelers are experiencing significant delays.

Many shared their frustrations online, with one person stuck in traffic from Dongguan in Guangdong, unable to leave the province for an entire afternoon.

Another reported being immobilized on the highway between Shanghai and Kunming for five hours.

The estimated total traffic volume on Guangdong's expressways is projected to reach 281 million vehicle trips, marking a 2.62 percent increase compared to last year.

The railway rush began on January 14, with China State Railway Group reporting that 235 million tickets had been sold by January 21.

During the 40-day Lunar New Year travel period, the railway service is expected to accommodate around 510 million passengers.

High-speed rail has become a favored option for travelers to commute from Hong Kong due to its convenience and cost-effectiveness.

Some travel agencies are struggling to secure enough railway tickets amid increased demand.

Yau Moon-yee, assistant general manager at Sunflower Travel Services, said there is a surge for high-speed rail demand to destinations such as Zhangjiajie, Guilin and Chaoshan, with many itineraries nearly fully booked.

Tour operators focusing on mainland inbound tours expect a surge to Hong Kong, with horse racing and panda tourism projected to attract 20 to 30 percent more.

Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said a trip to Luoyang, Henan, would take seven to eight hours, including transfers, which is comparable to a high-speed rail journey. Also, the price of a direct flight from Hong Kong to Xi'an during the Lunar New Year has skyrocketed to HK$5,000.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com