BEIJING -- A total of 97.57 million train trips were made between January 16 and Friday, the first day of the Chinese Spring Festival, up 14.4 percent compared to the corresponding period last year, data from railway authorities showed on Saturday.

Over 2.7 million railway trips were made on Friday, up 17.2 percent year on year and 4.5 million are expected on Saturday, the second day of the lunar new year holiday when traditionally married women visit their parents.

Travel demand normally surges each year before the eve of the Spring Festival, the most important traditional Chinese festival.

This year's "chunyun", or travel peak during Spring Festival, began on January 16 and will end on February 24.