A boy tries to lift a suitcase at the departure hall of the Beijing Railway Station in central Beijing, China January 13, 2017 as the annual Spring Festival travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year.
With the Chinese New Year around the corner, hundreds of millions of people head back home to celebrate the Lunar New Year with their families. There will be seven days of chaos as celebrations get underway for the upcoming New Year.
Millions will take to road and rail transport during the Spring Festival, the largest human event on the planet. It is almost equivalent to about two journeys for every single member of China's population.
The authorities have boosted security at train stations as well as in airports in Beijing to avoid the chaos seen in other cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou. According to German broadcaster Ruptly, an estimated 400 armed police, 200 railway security guards and 640 volunteers have been deployed to Beijing West Railway station alone.
The bus terminals, train stations and airports will be pushed to limits to cope with the massive increase in passengers. Any sort of delay could result in meltdowns.
Passengers wait to enter a railway station during the annual Spring Festival travel rush ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China January 14, 2017.Reuters
A child sleeps on the floor of a train from Xinjiang to Shanghai, ahead of the upcoming Spring Festival, China, January 15, 2017Reuters
Passengers enter the Beijing Railway Station in central Beijing, China January 13, 2017 as the annual Spring Festival travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year.Reuters
A passenger rests during the annual Spring Festival travel rush ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year inside a railway station in Shanghai, China January 15, 2017.Reuters
Passengers wait to board trains at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station as the annual Spring Festival travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Shanghai, China January 13, 2017.Reuters
Passengers rest in front of a banner urging for fire protection during the Spring Festival at the departure hall of the Beijing Railway Station in central Beijing, China January 13, 2017 as the annual festival travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year.Reuters
A man looks up as passengers sleep in a train from Xinjiang to Shanghai, ahead of the upcoming Spring Festival, China, January 15, 2017.Reuters
A woman smiles in front of a railway station ahead of the Spring Festival in Qingdao, Shandong province, China, January 18, 2017.Reuters
Passengers arrive at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station as the annual Spring Festival travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Shanghai, China January 13, 2017.Reuters
Passengers wait to board trains at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station in Shanghai, China January 13, 2017 as the annual Spring Festival travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year.Reuters
Security personnel arrives to the Beijing Railway Station in central Beijing, China January 13, 2017 as the annual Spring Festival travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year.Reuters
A woman drags a suitcase with a man sitting on it at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, as the annual Spring Festival travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Shanghai, China January 13, 2017Reuters
A couple share a duvet at midnight at a railway station in Guangzhou, Guangdong provinceReuters
A boy checks his seat on a passenger train he boarded at the Beijing Railway Station in central Beijing, China January 13, 2017 as the annual Spring Festival travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year.Reuters