Editor's note: The Spring Festival travel rush, known as the chunyun, is expected to begin in China on Jan 21 and will last till March 1. Major changes have taken place in the last few decades that have made travel smooth in the country.

Faisal Kidwai

Until recently, traveling during the Spring Festival was not an easy task. Standing in long lines to get the train ticket, the overcrowded trains and the journey that took days to complete were something every traveler had to bear. But not anymore. Now travelers can buy tickets online from the comfort of their home, enjoy the smooth journey on high-speed trains and reach their destination in hours instead of days.

Although navigating the Chinese New Year rush remains a challenge, the path has become less bumpy, less stressful and less time-consuming thanks to the bullet trains. So happy holidays, happy traveling.