China expects 9.5 billion trips around Lunar New Year period

China's government said it expects about 9.5 billion Lunar New Year trips this year, a record high.

Chinese officials said on Thursday that private vehicles will make about 80 percent of the forecast journeys in the 40-day span that starts Monday. More than 500 million trips will be by rail and 95 million by air.

The number of visitors to Japan is expected to decline amid deteriorating bilateral relations. China cited "safety concerns" in calling on people to refrain from traveling to Japan during the holiday period.

During last year's Lunar New Year holiday, Japan was the most popular overseas destination for Chinese travelers. Chinese media reported that this year, Japan has dropped out of the top 10, with destinations in Southeast Asia gaining popularity.

nhk