The largest annual migration on earth is happening for Chinese New Year - these incredible photos show what the journey is like

Tara Francis ChanFeb 16, 2018, 03.27 PM
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GettyImages 917604158 Tao Zhang/Getty Images

Chinese New Year has begun!

Around the world, 1.5 billion people - t hat's nearly a fifth of everybody - are expected to celebrate two weeks of festivities that begin on February 16.

And in China, the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, sees hundreds of millions of rural migrant workers that spend most of the year living in major cities travel home to spend time with loved ones.

Together they will make nearly 3 billion trips in a little over a month. It is the largest annual human migration on Earth.

Here's what it has looked like so far this year.

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In 2018 hundreds of millions of people in China will travel home to see family and celebrate the Lunar New Year.

In 2018 hundreds of millions of people in China will travel home to see family and celebrate the Lunar New Year.

All up, it's expected that 2.98 billion trips will be made between February 1 and March 12.

All up, it's expected that 2.98 billion trips will be made between February 1 and March 12.

Source: Xinhua

During this period some people will travel back to their family's homes by car while those traveling by plane will benefit from 30,000 extra flights that are being put on.

During this period some people will travel back to their family's homes by car while those traveling by plane will benefit from 30,000 extra flights that are being put on.

But trains remains popular. 390 million people will travel by rail this holiday period, with bullet trains making some journeys 75% faster.

But trains remains popular. 390 million people will travel by rail this holiday period, with bullet trains making some journeys 75% faster.

Source: Xinhua, Bloomberg

Not all trips will be fast though. These travelers are on train trip from Beijing to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province, which lasts 26 hours.

Not all trips will be fast though. These travelers are on train trip from Beijing to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province, which lasts 26 hours.

There aren't enough seats for everyone so some people have to stand for the entire journey.

There aren't enough seats for everyone so some people have to stand for the entire journey.

But services, and food options, have improved over the years. This year travelers can order KFC online which train attendants will then deliver to their seat.

But services, and food options, have improved over the years. This year travelers can order KFC online which train attendants will then deliver to their seat.

Source: Global Times

Some lucky people sleep in cabins.

Some lucky people sleep in cabins.

Though many sleep in their seats or, like these men, in the restaurant car.

Though many sleep in their seats or, like these men, in the restaurant car.

Others get some shut eye at stations while they wait for connecting trains.

Others get some shut eye at stations while they wait for connecting trains.

Current temperatures are dropping below freezing which means travelers — particularly little ones — need to wrap up.

Current temperatures are dropping below freezing which means travelers — particularly little ones — need to wrap up.

Travelers can have a lot of luggage that sometimes includes traditional gifts and foods that are only available during the Spring Festival.

Travelers can have a lot of luggage that sometimes includes traditional gifts and foods that are only available during the Spring Festival.

Fireworks are also popular — but this year Beijing banned them in the city center in an effort to reduce air pollution and the inevitable injuries that occur.

Fireworks are also popular — but this year Beijing banned them in the city center in an effort to reduce air pollution and the inevitable injuries that occur.

This traveler was injured before the holidays began, but found a train conductor willing to carry him.

This traveler was injured before the holidays began, but found a train conductor willing to carry him.

Some of the queues are immense.

Some of the queues are immense.

Part of the reason for the mass migration is that hundreds of millions of people have moved away from their villages to earn more money.

Part of the reason for the mass migration is that hundreds of millions of people have moved away from their villages to earn more money.

However, people in China can't just move wherever they want. There is a system called hukou which restricts the number of urban residency permits the government gives out each year.

However, people in China can't just move wherever they want. There is a system called hukou which restricts the number of urban residency permits the government gives out each year.

Source: The Diplomat

Even when rural migrants obtain a permit to live in a city, they don't have access to health, education or social services. And neither do their children, so millions of children are left back home with their grandparents to attend school.

Even when rural migrants obtain a permit to live in a city, they don't have access to health, education or social services. And neither do their children, so millions of children are left back home with their grandparents to attend school.

Source: The Guardian

But this year, it's believed many of the migrant workers who traveled home won't return to Beijing at the end of the holidays.

But this year, it's believed many of the migrant workers who traveled home won't return to Beijing at the end of the holidays.

Since November 2017, Beijing has not only evicted tens of thousands of residents — mostly migrant workers originally from rural areas — but it has demolished their homes. In some cases people were given no warning.

Since November 2017, Beijing has not only evicted tens of thousands of residents — mostly migrant workers originally from rural areas — but it has demolished their homes. In some cases people were given no warning.

Source: Business Insider

While the evictions began as part of a safety campaign following a fire, many see the efforts as part of an explicit plan to arbitrarily cut the city's population by 2 million people by 2020.

While the evictions began as part of a safety campaign following a fire, many see the efforts as part of an explicit plan to arbitrarily cut the city's population by 2 million people by 2020.

Source: The Guardian, China Daily

But for now, China's migrants will be enjoying countless meals and celebrations with their loved ones over the holidays.

But for now, China's migrants will be enjoying countless meals and celebrations with their loved ones over the holidays.
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