Train ticket sales begin for Spring Festival travel rush

Train tickets for the first day of the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush went on sale yesterday, marking the beginning of this year’s chunyun period, which will span from Feb. 2 to March 13. Also yesterday, railway authorities introduced a time-limited free refund policy for tickets purchased in error. Passengers who buy tickets through the 12306 platform for travel on or after Feb. 2 can request a full refund online, provided the request is made within 30 minutes of payment and at least four hours before the train’s departure time. This year’s Spring Festival, China’s most important traditional holiday, falls on Feb. 17.