Post date: Feb 04, 2013 1:47:1 PM
Migrants at Beijing's main train station join the world's largest annual human migration, as hundreds of millions of Chinese make the long journey home for the lunar new year.
BEIJING, CHINA (FEBRUARY 4, 2013) (REUTERS) - The world's largest annual human migration was in full swing on Monday (February 4) as hundreds of millions of Chinese made their way home for the Chinese New Year.
Crowds of people dragging bags and carrying children filled the square in front ofBeijing's main railway station as they rushed to board trains.A record 3.41 billion trips are expected over this year's Lunar new year period, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported, stretching railways, roads and airways to their limits.
Many of China's 1.3 billion people work in big cities hundreds of miles from their hometowns, and the week-long 'Spring Festival' national holiday is the only time in the year that they will see their families.
It is also a time for reflection on the year past.
"Last year I have found it difficult to make money. My wages weren't very high. They were pretty low. But life's not so tough. I'm happy with what I have," said 31-year-old chef Zhang Yulong, making his way back to his home near the Russian border inHeilongjiang province.
The Year of the Dragon makes way for the Year of the Snake this Sunday (February 10). Chinese celebrate the New Year eating a huge meal with loved ones and letting off deafening fireworks in the street.
"The best thing in the Year of the Dragon was that I got a promotion, a salary increase and an apartment. For the year of the Snake, I hope most for good health, a happy family and to give birth to a 'Snake baby'," said 30-year-old construction project manager Miao Xiaoqing.
Mr. Liu , a 29-year-old account manager from Hebei Province, said the country was heading in the right direction.
"It's difficult to buy a car and afford an apartment, but that's about it. Things are pretty good. Society has been developing well, the new leadership seems good, they've arrested a lot of corrupt officials. That's what I like to see," he said.
The Year of the Dragon saw Xi Jinping take over from Hu Jintao as head of the Chinese Communist Party, and Xi kicked off his term with a campaign to tackle the country's rampant corruption, a move which has met with widespread public approval.
Xi will be made the country's president in a congress to be held in early March soon after the holiday period ends.