China records 9.02 billion domestic trips during Lunar New Year travel surge

China's travel sector experienced a significant boom during the recent Lunar New Year travel rush, recording a record 9.02 billion domestic trips, surpassing last year's 8.4 billion. This surge is seen as an indicator of the country's economic recovery, with increases in both train and air travel—513 million and 90.2 million trips respectively—reflecting a 6.1% and 7.4% rise from the previous year. Additionally, the introduction of a revised metric that includes self-driving trips has contributed to these impressive figures. Meanwhile, travel to China from South Korea significantly increased due to a visa-free policy, with over 647,000 Koreans visiting China from November to January, marking a 60.6% rise from the previous year. Popular winter tourism destinations in northern China also benefited from the influx during the Spring Festival, which saw a 30% increase in tourist numbers. This growth in travel highlights a gap between rising anti-China sentiments and the public's eagerness to explore the country.