Wishes continued friendship and cooperation as millions embark on the extended lunar new year travel rush
A man poses for a picture with lion dancers ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations at a department store, in Bangkok, Thailand, February 15, 2026. REUTERS
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended heartfelt greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping, the people of China and Chinese communities worldwide on the advent of Chinese New Year 2026 — the Year of the Horse.
In a post on X, the premier said the Horse symbolises energy, resilience and speed — values that resonate with the shared journey of Pakistan and China. Describing the two countries as “iron brothers”, he said they were “bound by an All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and a shared vision of peace, development and regional connectivity.”
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
As we welcome the Chinese New Year 2026 – the Year of the Horse – I extend my heartfelt greetings to President Xi Jinping, the brotherly people of China, and to Chinese communities around the world.
The Horse symbolizes energy, resilience and speed – values that…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 16, 2026
He further expressed hope that the new year would further strengthen the enduring friendship between the two nations and deepen bilateral cooperation for the prosperity of their peoples.
“The entire Pakistani nation joins me in wishing our Chinese brothers and sisters continued good health, success and forward momentum in the Year of the Horse,” he added.
Extended spring festival holidays
Every year, hundreds of millions of people across China travel during the lunar new year holidays to reunite with family or for leisure, making it the world’s largest annual human migration. Known as “Chunyun,” the travel rush is often regarded as a barometer of the country’s economic health and a stress test for its vast transport system.
This year’s rush began on February 2 and will continue for 40 days, with official Spring Festival holidays running from February 15 to 23. Officials expect a record 9.5 billion domestic trips, up from about 9.02 billion last year, boosted by new tracking of road travel on major expressways.
Reuters reported that by February 10, China’s railways had already transported over one billion passengers, while flights in the first week reached 16.32 million of an expected 95 million during the period.
Read More: Upcoming Chinese New Year creates ripples worldwide
Domestic travel has largely divided between tropical destinations such as Hainan and winter sports hubs like Changbai Mountain, while international trips are rising with a preference for summery locations such as Thailand and Australia.
Russia has emerged as a new popular destination following its December 2025 visa relaxation for Chinese tourists, whereas demand for Japan has declined amid diplomatic tensions.
This year’s rush is further bolstered by the extension of the Spring Festival break by a day and China’s widened visa-free entry policy for more than 45 countries, allowing stays of up to 30 days for visitors from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and other regions.
