BEIJING — China is expected to see an increased number of trips during the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush, Lian Weiliang, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said on Jan 18.

During the 40-day travel rush from Jan 21 to March 1, travelers are expected to make 2.99 billion trips, up 0.6 percent year-on-year, Lian told a news conference.

Hundreds of millions of Chinese return to their hometowns every year during the Chinese Lunar New Year to get together with their families. The 2019 Year of the Pig in Chinese lunar calendar will begin on Feb 5.

To enhance railway transportation capability, a total of 4,787 and 4,860 two-way train services will be scheduled daily before and after the festival respectively, up 5.4 percent and 5.2 percent compared with the same period last year, according to Lian.

Among them, 3,352 and 3,383 two-way high-speed train services will be scheduled before and after the festival respectively, up 17.8 percent and 17.2 percent year-on-year, Lian said.

At the same time, the aviation authority plans to schedule 532,000 flights during the travel rush, an increase of 10 percent year-on-year.

A total of 230,000 young volunteers will provide services during the travel rush, according to Lian.