Next year's Spring Festival peak travel period is expected to
begin on January 7, ten days ahead of this year, with more than
half of the four million-plus non-local workers and students
preparing to return to their hometown before the holiday, according
to Saturday's work conference.
Shanghai is home to more than four million businessmen and
migrant workers, and nearly 160,000 university students from
outside the city, with most expected to return to their hometown in
the coming Spring Festival holiday.
The vocation for university students is predicted to begin on
January 10 next year, with the peak return period falling between
January 10 and 15.
"We should adopt strict measures to ensure safety and order
during the Spring Festival peak travel period," said Shanghai Vice
Mayor Yang Xiong at the conference yesterday.
The local transportation department should make preparations for
the peak period, drawing up plans to react to the emergencies, Yang
stressed.
The city should also enhance service standard and administration
during the peak travel period, he added.
(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2003)