"BEJING/SHANGHAI -- The Chinese New Year travel rush, known as "Chunyun," started on Friday, with the government projecting a 14% decrease from the year before in the number of people using public transportation for returning home or going on trips.
On Friday, Shanghai Hongqiao station was filled with homeward-bound passengers, and tourists with big suitcases. "I will spend a month at my home in Anhui province," said a 30-year-old worker in Shanghai. "I'm looking forward to meeting my family and friends.""
The short article also has a subtitle of "Use of private cars may signal that consumers are tightening their belts", which is by itself is plausible. But then its opposite, i.e. , more people are using high speed train can also explain the increase of travelers using private cars because they could not get the tickets they want.
Anyway, there is no reason and no report on a 14% decrease in the number of people using public transportation for returning home or going on trips.
According to reports in Chinese, Spring Festival traveler-trip is going to have a new high.
Headlines:
2024春运今日启幕:多线路火车票售罄,不少旅游航线经济舱已卖光
https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1789151376690462371&wfr=spider&for=pc
"为期40天的2024年春运大幕今天（1月26日）开启，同时，铁路12306今天开始发售2月9日也就是农历腊月三十的火车票。根据交通运输部此前发布的数据，今年春运期间全国跨区域人员流动量预计将达到90亿人次，有望创历史新高..."
2024年全国铁路春运今日启动 预计发送旅客4.8亿人次
https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1789144487785237508&wfr=spider&for=pc
"光明网讯（记者 陶媛）记者从中国国家铁路集团有限公司（以下简称“国铁集团”）获悉：2024年春运今日正式启动，自1月26日至3月5日，为期40天，全国铁路预计发送旅客4.8亿人次，日均1200万人次，同比2023年春运增长37.9%。1月26日春运首日全国铁路预计发送旅客1060万人次。..."