China’s Greater Bay Area launches first nighttime train service for 2026 Spring Festival travel rush

Southern China’s Great Bay Area on Sunday launched the first nighttime high-speed train service to ease the mounting pressure of the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush for 2026, which officially started a week ago.

At 22:12 on Sunday, the first overnight train departed from the bustling Guangzhou South Railway Station in Guangdong Province, transporting a large number of passengers on a four-hour journey to Wuhan, the capital city of central China’s Hubei Province.

According to travelers, the introduction of the nighttime train service has provided them with extra travel options.

“The traffic on our way here wasn’t as bad as it is during the day, so I think we’ve saved some time,” said a passenger about the nighttime service.

Since the start of the Spring Festival travel rush, known as Chunyun, railway passenger traffic across the Greater Bay Area has continued to surge. Starting from Feb 8, China Railway Guangzhou Group has been handling more than 2 million passengers per day, and this high volume is expected to continue through Feb 15.

To manage the peak demand during the pre-holiday rush, the Guangzhou Railway Group plans to operate a total of 2,472 nighttime high-speed trains, with more than 400 additional services on peak travel days. These trains will connect southern hubs like Guangzhou and Shenzhen to major destinations including Wuhan, Chongqing, and Nanchang. During this period, most service areas at Guangzhou South Railway Station will remain open 24 hours a day.

“To meet passengers’ needs, all service facilities at Guangzhou South Station are operating round-the-clock, ensuring ample supplies of hot water, food, and more. Efforts are being made to coordinate with local transportation departments to extend the service hours of other transit options, collectively enhancing the ‘last mile’ experience for travelers,” said Zeng Yongxian, a staff member at Guangzhou South Railway Station under China Railway Guangzhou Group.

The Chinese Embassy in Germany and the Chinese Consulate General in Munich held receptions to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year, featuring artistic performances and the display of the promotional video of China Media Group (CMG)’s Spring Festival Gala.

The Spring Festival, which falls on Feb 17 this year, is one of the most important holidays in China, celebrated with family reunions and wishes for good luck in the coming year, the Year of the Horse.

Watching the Spring Festival Gala on television is a cherished part of the celebrations in hundreds of millions of Chinese homes. The gala will be broadcast live around the world on the Chinese New Year’s Eve on Feb 16.

At the two receptions, which were held, respectively, by the embassy on Wednesday and by the consulate general on Friday, Chinese ambassador to Germany Deng Hongbo and Chinese consul general in Munich Qiu Xuejun delivered speeches. They reflected on China’s significant achievements over the past year and highlighted the progress of China-Germany exchanges and cooperation.

The two diplomats extended warm New Year greetings and best wishes to overseas Chinese, students, employees of Chinese-funded enterprises, and friends from all walks of life in Germany, while acknowledging their contributions in fostering China-Germany friendship and deepening stronger people-to-people ties.

The promotional video of the CMG 2026 Spring Festival Gala was screened at the receptions to add a festive atmosphere and boost cultural exchanges between the two countries. With the dynamic pacing and rich imagery, the promotional video blended traditional cultural elements with modern aesthetics, showcasing the innovative vitality of traditional culture in contemporary expression.

Performances by a troupe from central China’s Hubei Province featured a variety of artistic forms, including dance, traditional opera, folk music, vocal performances, martial arts and magic shows. These programs integrated regional cultural elements, folk customs, and New Year’s atmosphere, presenting the diverse charm and contemporary vitality of Chinese traditional culture.

The Deutsche Oper’s male choir also performed a classic song at the embassy reception, sharing the stage with the Chinese programs. The interplay of Chinese and German artistic elements created a festive and lively atmosphere during the event.