Zhou Xia, who works as a maid in Beijing, begins her 1,000 kilometer journey from the capital to her home in Anhui province for the Lunar New Year.
The long journey home —
Zhou Xia, who works as a maid in Beijing, begins her 1,000 kilometer journey from the capital to her home in Anhui province for the Lunar New Year.
david mckenzie/cnn
Beijing Railway Station is a hive of activity as people stream home for the Lunar New Year. More than 200 million rail trips are taken during the holiday period and often travelers aren't able to pre-book their seats.
Leaving the capital —
Beijing Railway Station is a hive of activity as people stream home for the Lunar New Year. More than 200 million rail trips are taken during the holiday period and often travelers aren't able to pre-book their seats.
david mckenzie/cnn
Zhou waits with hundreds of people crowding to get on the overnight T63 train to Hefei. While China has a growing network of high-speed trains, the T63 is old rolling stock and travels at a slower pace.
Waiting to board —
Zhou waits with hundreds of people crowding to get on the overnight T63 train to Hefei. While China has a growing network of high-speed trains, the T63 is old rolling stock and travels at a slower pace.
david mckenzie/cnn
Many people weren't able to get tickets all the way home, so many book just to the first stop and then hope they won't get thrown off. Conductors usually allow them to get standing room tickets and distribute them through the train.
Any tickets? —
Many people weren't able to get tickets all the way home, so many book just to the first stop and then hope they won't get thrown off. Conductors usually allow them to get standing room tickets and distribute them through the train.
david mckenzie/cnn
Conductors register passengers.
'Rich or poor, home for the holiday' —
Conductors register passengers.
david mckenzie/cnn
If you can get them, the tiered sleeping section is popular among passengers, the online ticketing opens 20 days before each trip and often people get friends and relatives to try book for them. But it is more like a lottery.
The lucky few —
If you can get them, the tiered sleeping section is popular among passengers, the online ticketing opens 20 days before each trip and often people get friends and relatives to try book for them. But it is more like a lottery.
david mckenzie/cnn
A conductor waits for oncoming passengers in Tianjin.
Connecting people —
A conductor waits for oncoming passengers in Tianjin.
david mckenzie/cnn
Zhou is moved near the washrooms for the ten hour journey. But she doesn't mind, she says, because she finally gets to see her children.
A happy wait —
Zhou is moved near the washrooms for the ten hour journey. But she doesn't mind, she says, because she finally gets to see her children.
david mckenzie/cnn
CNN's David McKenzie and Dayu Zhang (back right) with Zhou (right) and her family in Hefei.
Part of the family —
CNN's David McKenzie and Dayu Zhang (back right) with Zhou (right) and her family in Hefei.
david mckenzie/cnn