CHINA-SPRING FESTIVAL TRAVEL RUSH-STARTING (CN)

SHANGHAI, Jan. 8, 2012 (Xinhua) -- Wei Ningxia, a train conductor, helps passengers arrange luggage on the train K376 from east China's Shanghai to Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, Jan. 8, 2012. China started the 40-day Spring Festival peak travel season Sunday, with a total of 3.16 billion passenger on the move. China's railways will carry 235 million passengers during the travel rush, up 6.1 percent year-on-year. The Spring Festival, or Chinese lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 23 this year. It is the most important traditional Chinese festival for family reunions. (Xinhua/Chen Fei)