More Than Half the Chinese on the Road for Chinese New Year

The Chinese have made more than half fewer trips during the Chinese New Year, according to the Chinese Ministry of Transport.

This festive period involves the most extensive annual movement of people, but this year it was over 58 percent less than in previous years. 97.7 million people took the plane, train, boat or car to celebrate the New Year with loved ones.

The start of the Chinese New Year is usually accompanied by hundreds of millions of people returning home from industrial areas or major cities. Local authorities asked people this year to avoid the annual relocation to prevent outbreaks of the virus.

Those who did decide to go out had to repeatedly show negative corona tests and run the risk of having to be quarantined at home.

To further discourage travel, people were offered free mobile data and online movies to enjoy themselves at home.