An estimated 196.4 million cross-regional passenger trips are expected nationwide on the fourth day of China's 2026 Spring Festival travel rush on Thursday, as transport authorities step up services to ensure smooth and safe journeys for holiday travelers.

The country's railway system expects to have handled 11.85 million passenger trips by the day's end, a 6.1 percent increase compared to Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Also on the same day, the number of travelers on highways will reach 181.57 million, registering a 3.4 percent increase compared to Wednesday.

In waterway transportation, an estimated 620,000 passenger trips were made on Thursday, marking a 3.9 percent increase compared to Wednesday.

The country's civil aviation sector is expecting to carry 2.36 million passengers on the fourth day of the travel rush, reflecting an increase of 1.9 percent compared to Wednesday and a year-on-year increase of 5.6 percent.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, falls on Feb 17 this year. The official holiday for this year's Spring Festival lasts nine days, with the travel rush running through March 13.

Each year during the Spring Festival travel rush, also known as Chunyun, millions of people working, studying or living away from their hometowns return home for the Spring Festival, China's most important traditional holiday, forming the world's largest annual human migration.

During the entire rush period this year, inter-regional trips are expected to hit a record 9.5 billion.