The World's Biggest Human Migration Kicks Off

CHAN:
The world's biggest human migration has now begun ahead of the Chinese New Year. Millions of migrant workers are filling up train stations to catch the next available train that takes them back to their hometowns.


STORY:
This year's Chinese New Year holiday migration is taking place earlier than usual. Many migrant workers are deciding to return home weeks ahead of the Chinese New Year because they have no jobs due the global financial crisis.

Factories across China have fired large numbers of workers as orders have dropped and demand for exports has slowed down.

The Railways Ministry estimates an increase in passengers of eight percent this Spring Festival, breaking a record of 188 million travelers.

At Beijing's West Station, huge crowds are queuing outside ticket counters.

They are hoping to get any tickets available, and will settle for the ones that take them nearest their hometowns.

Student Zheng Haixia came back from the ticket counter empty-handed.

[Zheng Haixia, Student]:
"My hometown is really far away and there are not enough direct trains. There are no tickets left for any trains next week. I'm going to Datong to transfer."

This year the Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Sunday January the 25th.

Most Chinese get normally the following week off to celebrate the Spring Festival holidays with their families.

For China's millions of migrant workers, this is the only time they get a chance to visit their loved ones back home.

[Yang Chunxing, Migrant Worker]:
"If you are far from home then you really miss home when it's the Spring Festival time. You miss your family life."

Traditionally, passengers will then face the same ordeal on their way back to their work cities. But this year many will just stay home since their have no jobs to return to.

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[dehmrx7]

Man-this sucks...i thought it was bad here!