Record numbers of journeys will be made on China's road and waterway transport networks during this year's Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, season, a transport official said Friday.

He Jianzhong, spokesman of the Ministry of Transport, said at a press conference that trips by public transport on highways would hit 2.27 billion during festive period, up 7.5 percent from a year earlier, while those on waterways would see a 3.6 percent increase to 32 million.

The Spring Festival transport peak will last from January 30 to March 10 this year, during which the Lunar New Year, China's most important traditional festival for family reunions, will fall on February 14.

He attributed the increase mainly to the rebound of the country's economy, leading to rising demand for migrant workers.

China would see 152 million migrant workers traveling home during the travel rush, up 8.2 percent year on year, said He.

The number of train journeys was estimated at 210 million during the transport peak, up 9.5 percent from the previous year, the Ministry of Railways said Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2010)