BEIJING — The travel rush ahead of the Spring Festival will come earlier than previous years, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Jan 8.

The preholiday travel rush is expected to last from Jan 15 to 23, while returning passenger flows will surge during the Jan 26-Feb 2 period and Feb 9-Feb 13 period, said MOT spokesperson Wu Chungeng.

Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Henan, Sichuan, Anhui, Hunan, Hebei, Beijing and Shanghai will be the top 10 provincial-level regions in terms of passenger flow.

Demand for high-speed railways will remain robust, with middle- to short-haul routes making up the majority, according to China's largest online travel agency Ctrip.

Demand for air travel between key cities will also be strong. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Sanya are expected to be hot destinations, according to Ctrip.

The upcoming holiday for the Spring Festival, a traditional festival for family reunions, will run from Jan 24 to 30, while the travel rush, also known as chunyun, will last 40 days from Jan 10 to Feb 18.