China 'chunyun' train tickets available

BEIJING -- As of Monday, passengers can buy train tickets online or by telephone for the first day of "chunyun," a 40-day travel rush period around the Spring Festival.

Only tickets for temporary trains mobilized for chunyun went on sale Monday, five days before tickets for regular trains become available, according to an announcement on the arrangement by the China Railway Corporation.

The Spring Festival, or China's lunar new year, is the country's most important traditional holiday for family reunions. Most people will go home for the festival, putting great pressure on the country's transportation system.

The coming Spring Festival falls on Jan 31, 2014. This year's chunyun, literally translated as "spring transportation," is scheduled for Jan 16 to Feb 24, 2014.

People can book tickets for temporary trains 25 days before the travel date via the Internet or telephone, while train stations and train ticket agencies begin to sell the tickets 23 days ahead, according to the announcement.