Core Viewpoint - The 2026 Spring Festival travel rush is expected to see a record high of 9.5 billion trips, driven by a combination of family visits and tourism during the extended holiday period [2] Group 1: Travel Trends - The travel patterns this year are characterized by three main features: dispersed travel before the holiday, a surge in tourism during the holiday, and concentrated returns to work and school after the holiday [2] - There is a notable trend of increased self-driving travel, with parents visiting their children's homes for the New Year, and concepts like "reverse Spring Festival travel" and "return home first, then travel" becoming popular [2] Group 2: Transportation Projections - The total cross-regional passenger flow is projected to reach 9.5 billion trips, marking a historical high [2] - Railway and civil aviation passenger volumes are expected to reach 540 million and 95 million respectively, with both overall scale and daily peak volumes likely to exceed historical records [2]

Core Insights - The 2026 Spring Festival travel season will begin on February 2 and end on March 13, lasting 40 days, with an expected record high of 9.5 billion trips across the country [1] - The government will enhance transportation capacity, stagger travel times, and improve service guarantees to ensure safe and smooth travel for the public [1] Transportation Sector - Road travel will dominate, with approximately 80% of trips expected to be by private car, and measures will be taken to optimize travel experiences, including real-time information dissemination [3][4] - By the end of 2025, the number of new energy vehicles in China is projected to reach 43.97 million, with 12.93 million registered in 2025 alone, highlighting the growing importance of charging infrastructure [3] - During the Spring Festival, from February 15 to February 23, tolls for small passenger vehicles will be waived on national highways [4] Rail Sector - The railway and civil aviation sectors are expected to see passenger volumes of 540 million and 95 million, respectively, with both sectors aiming to exceed historical peaks [5] - The introduction of a new internet-based free refund policy for mistakenly purchased train tickets will be implemented, allowing refunds within 30 minutes of purchase [6] - New train routes and increased service frequency will be introduced to meet changing travel demands, particularly for family and tourism-related trips [5][6] Aviation Sector - The civil aviation sector anticipates a surge in travel for both domestic and international tourism, with a focus on routes catering to winter tourism and warmer destinations [7] - Airlines will be encouraged to enhance service offerings, including child-friendly amenities and improved accessibility for elderly travelers [8] - Airports will be supported in integrating cultural and consumer products into their shopping offerings, enhancing the travel experience [8]

Core Viewpoint - The 2026 Spring Festival travel season is expected to see a record high in passenger flow, along with new trends in travel behavior, such as a significant increase in self-driving trips and the "return home first, then travel" pattern becoming more prevalent [1]. Group 1 - The passenger flow during this year's Spring Festival is anticipated to reach unprecedented levels [1]. - Self-driving travel is expected to maintain a high level of activity during the Spring Festival [1]. - New travel trends include the pattern of "return home first, then travel," which has gained popularity in recent years [1].