Sawt Falasteen - Dumplings and work stress as Chinese rush home for Lunar New Year

"I got put on the waiting list and managed to snag a ticket," the 19-year-old told AFP on Friday at the train station in Baoding in northern Hebei province.

Gao's trip home is just one of the 9.5 billion trips authorities predict people will make over this year's 40-day Lunar New Year period.

That figure would be a record high, up from 9.02 billion journeys last year.

The holiday gives Gao a chance to spend time with family and participate in traditions to usher in the Year of the Horse, which begins on Tuesday.

"I'll help out with cleaning the house, set off firecrackers and, as is the Chinese tradition, eat dumplings on the morning of Lunar New Year's Day," said Gao as he dragged his suitcase towards a train to his hometown of Langfang.

But his rest from professional training in Baoding will not be long.

Though the public holiday spans a record nine days this year, Gao said he would not be going out to travel with family.

"I've got exams and training to work towards," he said.

"My studies come first."

- Family time -

The longer stretch of public holidays this year has been touted by officials as a chance to boost the sluggish domestic consumption that still weighs on the economy.

But for many Chinese, the priority is enjoying happy days with their families across the country.

Chai Lihong, a 47-year-old from Xingtai in Hebei, arrived in Baoding on Friday to spend the Lunar New Year with her daughter, who moved there after she married.

She planned to hang traditional Chinese couplets -- usually on auspicious red paper -- before sharing a family meal.

Her daughter had no plans to splurge despite the long holiday.

"After we celebrate the Lunar New Year with my daughter's family, they also need to go back to her husband's hometown to be with in-laws," she told AFP.

"Then suddenly it's the fifth day of the new year, which in China means work resumes."

Chai used the expression "powu", or "break five", which refers to a tendency in China to return to normal life after observing traditions during the first four days of the new year.

That day this year is next Friday.

- Year of the Horse hopes -

For 34-year-old Hua Lei, the holiday offers a chance to take a step back from her busy life in the Chinese capital, where she works in the e-commerce sector.

Her hometown of Anguo, about 190 kilometres (120 miles) south of Beijing, is a famous hub for ingredients used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Getting there during the travel rush can be challenging.

"There are high-speed rail tickets from Beijing to Baoding, but I generally can't get them, especially during the holidays," she said after arriving on a slower train.

Hua, like others AFP interviewed at the Baoding station, had no travel plans beyond returning home.

She said many of her friends had trips scheduled but she usually didn't like to spend big sums during Lunar New Year.

"I prefer to stay home."

Hua's wishes for the Year of the Horse were straightforward: "Of course, I hope to make a fortune, have a smooth life and stay healthy."

B.Khalifa--SF-PST