China expects record number of travelers for Spring Festival

A record 343 million Chinese are planning to travel during this year's Spring Festival holiday, 13.6 percent more than last year, according to the China National Tourism Administration.

Popular overseas destinations include the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asian counties, Xue Yaping, a senior official with the administration said on Friday.

As for domestic travel, destinations in southern China such as Sanya in Hainan province, Shenzhen in Guangdong province and Xiamen in Fujian province are popular among those who live in the colder north, while cities in the northeast are also attracting many tourists looking for ice and snow.

According to Xue, 36 percent of tourists will travel by plane during the seven-day Spring Festival holiday, which begins on Jan 27.