Number Crunch

China’s Biggest Holiday Will Have Less Than Half Its Usual Travel

The Year of the Ox begins on a downer

61%: That’s the projected decrease in Chinese Lunar New Year travel compared to 2019, reports CNN.

China’s Ministry of Transport is predicting around 1.15 billion trips during the new year travel season, which lasts about 40 days and starts around two weeks before the Year of the Ox kicks off on February 12. That would make the travel figure for this Lunar New Year the lowest since the government began to release official statistics in 2003. Traditionally, the season is marked by lots of travel, particularly from city-based workers heading back home to celebrate with family. But this year, the government is discouraging “nonessential” travel.

In 2020, the arrival of the Year of the Rat coincided with a pivotal moment in the early spread of the coronavirus: A vigorous travel season was well underway before Wuhan was locked down just before Lunar New Year’s day, and many were stranded far from their jobs as restrictions kicked in. This year, a variety of national and local restrictions and rules — ranging from proof of a negative Covid-19 test to two-week mandatory quarantines — aim to prevent a sequel. But for many Chinese, the holiday is the only time of year when they are able to reunite with kin — “the equivalent of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve combined,” CNN notes. Not surprisingly, many are deeply unhappy with the restrictions. One social media user groused at the government: “What are your brains made of?”

Hopefully, by the time the Year of the Tiger begins in February 2022, we’ll all be feeling more celebratory.

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