Passengers access to Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The world's most populous country kicked off its largest annual travel rush Friday, with a record number of trips expected during the Chinese New Year holiday season.

The 40-day travel frenzy from Jan. 13 to Feb. 21 is known as "Chunyun," the hectic period surrounding Chinese lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on Jan. 27 this year.

The Chinese New Year celebrations are China's most important family holiday, with hundreds of millions of people heading for their hometowns to reunite with relatives and old friends, putting huge stress on the transport system.

A record 2.978 billion trips are expected during "Chunyun" this year, up 2.2 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Up to 356 million trips are expected to be made via rail, up 9.7 percent year on year.

A total of 2.52 billion trips are expected to be made via roads and 43.5 million trips via waterways, up 1 percent and 2 percent year on year, respectively.

Trips made via air are expected to rise 10 percent year on year to 58.3 million, the ministry said.

The ministry said that more passenger trains would be added during the period to deal with the extra numbers, and ticket purchase procedures would be simplified to improve services.

China's rapidly-developing high-speed railways will help ease the holiday strain for travelers. The country boasts a high-speed rail network of more than 20,000 km, the world's largest.

A passenger is ready to board the train at Chengdudong Railway Station in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)

Passengers are ready to board the train at Beijing West Railway Station in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Li Wen)

Passengers are seen at Zhengzhou Railway Station in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Feng Dapeng)

Passengers are ready to board the train at Chengdudong Railway Station in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)

Passengers wait to enter Chengdudong Railway Station in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Xue Yubin)

Passengers wait to board the train at Zhengzhou Railway Station in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Feng Dapeng)

Passengers check in to board the train at Zhengzhou Railway Station in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Feng Dapeng)

Passengers wait to have their tickets checked at Beijing West Railway Station in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Li Wen)

A policewoman tells passengers how to identify fake tickets at Hefei south railway station in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Liu Junxi)

Passengers wait to board at Changchun Railway Station in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

A passenger boards the train at Harbin West Railway Station in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

Volunteers from Special Education College of Changchun University offer free massage to passengers at Changchun Railway Station in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

Passengers pass security check at Harbin West Railway Station in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

Passengers wait to board trains at Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Passengers check in to board the train at Harbin West Railway Station in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

People walk on the platform of Yantai Railway Station in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Tang Ke)

Photo taken with a mobile phone shows a passenger waiting to board at Beijing Capital International Airport T3 in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

A stewardess waits for passengers on a bullet train at Yantai Railway Station in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Shen Jizhong)

Passengers wait to board on the platform of Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

A policewoman tells passengers about the prohibited items at Hefei south railway station in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Liu Junxi)

A passenger with her child passes baggage at Guiyang Railway Station in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

Passengers stay in the waiting hall to enter the platform at Nanchang Railway Station in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

Passengers wait to board at Hangzhou East Railway Station in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

A passengers enters the platform from the waiting hall of Nanchang Railway Station in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The figure represents an increase of 2.2 percent from the same period in 2016. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Zhou Mi)

Passengers queue to board the train at Lhasa Railway Station in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2017. The first departure train from Tibet during this year's Spring Festival travel rush left Lhasa Railway Station at 8:50 a.m. Friday. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Liu Dongjun)

A staff member presents Spring Festival decoration with Chinese character "Fu" at Lhasa Railway Station in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2017. The first departure train from Tibet during this year's Spring Festival travel rush left Lhasa Railway Station at 8:50 a.m. Friday. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Liu Dongjun)

A staff member (L) guides passengers at Lhasa Railway Station in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2017. The first departure train from Tibet during this year's Spring Festival travel rush left Lhasa Railway Station at 8:50 a.m. Friday. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Liu Dongjun)

A policeman introduces antitheft methods at a railway station in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Fan Jun)

A policewoman introduces tourism safety knowledge at a railway station in Chongqing, southwest China, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

A volunteer (L) helps passengers buy tickets on a ticket vendor at Nanning Railway Station in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Volunteers help carry luggages for a passenger at Yinchuan Railway Station in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

Policewomen explain safety knowledge of Spring Festival travel rush for little passengers in the railway station in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Guo Chen)

A policeman demonstrates self-defence skills to passengers at Nanning Railway Station in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

A volunteer (R) helps a passenger enter Nanning Railway Station in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Passengers prepare to enter Beijing West Railway Station in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Li Wen)

A girl waits for the train with her family at Hankou Railway Station in Hankou, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

A staff member presents Spring Festival couplets as a gift to a passenger at Fuzhou Railway Station in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)

A staff member helps a passenger board the train at Fuzhou Railway Station in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)

A staff member hands out train schedule to passengers at Fuzhou Railway Station in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)

A volunteer (L) measures the blood pressure of a passenger at Yinchuan Railway Station in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

A volunteer helps a passenger carry luggage at Nanning Railway Station in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

Railroader Liu Mingliang guides in the railway station in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Guo Chen)

A volunteer plays with a little passenger at Yinchuan Railway Station in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

A policewoman named Chen Yu provides safety pamphlets for passengers in the railway station in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 13, 2017. About 2.98 billion trips are expected to be made during China's 2017 Spring Festival travel rush between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 28 this year. The festival is the most important occasion for family reunions. (Xinhua/Guo Chen)