People across China have begun travelling home for the annual Spring Festival.

The 40-day holiday period, which this year runs from 8 January to 16 February, is expected to see 3.16 billion trips taken by road, rail, air or water, making it the largest annual human migration on Earth. This year's total trips will mark a 9.1% year-on-year rise, according to China’s National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC).

An incredible 2.8 billion road journeys are expected to be taken over the 40-day period - 9.5% more than last year - and Chinese authorities have issued safety warnings. Xinhua reported the country’s Ministry of Public Security as saying that highway patrols and inspections will be undertaken nationwide to ensure safety. Travellers have also been warned of poor weather conditions, including snow and fog in several provinces.

China’s railways are expected to carry 235 million passengers during the Spring Festival, 6.1% up yearon- year, according to the country's Ministry of Railways. A daily average of 5.88 million people will take rail trips in China over the period.

The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, actually falls on 23 January this year. It is the most important Chinese festival for family reunions, and sees huge numbers of migrant workers return home from the city to their family homes in the countryside.

Source: Travel Daily Asia