The Ministry of Communications forecast that over 1.7 billion passengers will travel by bus and coach during the coming spring season travel period.

A ministry official said the figure was 3 percent more than that of last year.

Starting from Jan. 7, 2004, the coming peak travel season in China will end on Feb. 15. During the period, about 26 million persons will be expected to travel by waterways, said the ministry.

A total of 1.89 billion passengers are expected to travel by rail, road and air during the period, increasing 3 percent year-on-year, of which 137 million passengers are expected to take trains, and 10.5 million to take planes.

According to the ministry, to ease the coming traffic pressure, China's transport sectors have made advance preparation for the peak period.

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2003)