Car rental business sees growth during holiday travel rush

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01:28

As hundreds of millions of Chinese travel back to their hometowns during the Spring Festival, the transportation sector is getting prepared. Apart from trains and planes, a growing number of people are choosing to travel by car this year.

Up to three billion trips are expected during this year's travel rush, and over 80 percent of them are to be made by car.

Not all of those who choose to drive own a car or actually want to drive a long way. However, train tickets for popular routes usually sell out quickly and full-price plane fares during the festival are very expensive. So the car rental business across the country is witnessing a boom.

Heavy traffic on Qingdao-Lanzhou Expressway during the Spring Festival. /VCG Photo

According to a staff member at a car rental service, many customers have already made reservations for the festival.

"The daily fee for a Toyota Corolla is usually 130 yuan. But during the holiday, it costs more than 200 to 300 yuan a day. And now we are fully booked," he said.

One client of the service, a Mr Xu from eastern China's Shandong Province, told CGTN, "I think renting a car is rather convenient. When it comes to the price, other means of transportation aren't as economical."

He is considering going home by car this year.