What does the biggest human migration on earth look like on a map?

By CNN Staff
Updated 8:42 AM EST, Wed February 18, 2015
During China's "chunyun" or "spring migration," triggered by homecoming trips for Lunar New Year celebrations, more than 10% of commuters will depart from the country's capital, Beijing, followed by Shanghai (9.2%) and Shenzhen (7.23%). All three cities have huge populations of migrant workers.
Heading home —
During China's "chunyun" or "spring migration," triggered by homecoming trips for Lunar New Year celebrations, more than 10% of commuters will depart from the country's capital, Beijing, followed by Shanghai (9.2%) and Shenzhen (7.23%). All three cities have huge populations of migrant workers.
Interactiv/Baidu
About 3% of commuters are heading toward Chongqing, near central China, making it the city with the most homecoming returnees.
"Welcome back!" —
About 3% of commuters are heading toward Chongqing, near central China, making it the city with the most homecoming returnees.
Interactiv/Baidu
On February 17, Beijing Capital International Airport will be the most frequently used airport, followed by Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport and Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport. This handy interactive map produced by popular Chinese webite Baidu also allows passengers to see flight status.
Busiest airports —
On February 17, Beijing Capital International Airport will be the most frequently used airport, followed by Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport and Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport. This handy interactive map produced by popular Chinese webite Baidu also allows passengers to see flight status.
Interactiv/Baidu
Yellow lights indicate train stations, spanning as far as Xinjiang in northwest China. The busiest train station is Beijing's West Railway Station, followed by Shanghai's Hongqiao Railway Station and Guangzhou's South Railway Station.
Busiest train stations —
Yellow lights indicate train stations, spanning as far as Xinjiang in northwest China. The busiest train station is Beijing's West Railway Station, followed by Shanghai's Hongqiao Railway Station and Guangzhou's South Railway Station.
Interactiv/Baidu
How the biggest human migration on earth looks on a map
CNN  — 

Although Lunar New Year in China doesn’t officially start until February 19, the epic homecoming party began earlier this month.

Chunyun, or spring migration, is the world’s largest annual human migration.

It’s triggered in part by millions of Chinese workers heading to their hometowns for the holidays.

The migration lasts for 40 days – from February 4 to March 15 this year.

Baidu, often referred to as China’s version of Google, has released an interactive map tracking chunyun movements around the country.

A visitor attaches a new year wish to a row of lanterns at the start of the Lantern Festival marking the end of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, on Thursday, March 5.
A visitor attaches a new year wish to a row of lanterns at the start of the Lantern Festival marking the end of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, on Thursday, March 5.
Wally Santana/AP
Visitors walk through a display of elaborate lanterns at the start of the Lantern Festival marking the end of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Taipei on March 5.
Visitors walk through a display of elaborate lanterns at the start of the Lantern Festival marking the end of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Taipei on March 5.
Wally Santana/AP
Artists perform at an amusement park during Lunar New Year celebrations in Beijing on Thursday, February 19. The<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/12/asia/year-of-the-goat-sheep-ram/index.html"> Year of the Sheep</a> began that Thursday.
Artists perform at an amusement park during Lunar New Year celebrations in Beijing on Thursday, February 19. The Year of the Sheep began that Thursday.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Worshipers burn incense while offering prayers at a temple in Beijing on February 19.
Worshipers burn incense while offering prayers at a temple in Beijing on February 19.
Andy Wong/AP
A man lights incense sticks at a temple in Denpasar, Indonesia, on February 19.
A man lights incense sticks at a temple in Denpasar, Indonesia, on February 19.
Agung Parameswara/Getty Images
People celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea, on February 19.
People celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea, on February 19.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
A woman prays in Beijing on February 19.
A woman prays in Beijing on February 19.
Andy Wong/AP
A man walks through red lantern decorations at a temple near Tokyo on February 19.
A man walks through red lantern decorations at a temple near Tokyo on February 19.
Shizuo Kambayashi/AP
A woman holds incense at a Beijing temple February 19.
A woman holds incense at a Beijing temple February 19.
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Firecrackers explode as dragon and lion dancers perform in front of a supermarket in Manila, Philippines, on February 19.
Firecrackers explode as dragon and lion dancers perform in front of a supermarket in Manila, Philippines, on February 19.
Bullit Marquez/AP
Temple visitors give red envelopes with money to a lion dance troupe during a performance in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February 19.
Temple visitors give red envelopes with money to a lion dance troupe during a performance in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February 19.
Joshua Paul/AP
Security guards watch as fireworks go off on the eve of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Wednesday, February 18.
Security guards watch as fireworks go off on the eve of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Wednesday, February 18.
GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images
A woman prays at a temple in Jakarta, Indonesia, on February 18.
A woman prays at a temple in Jakarta, Indonesia, on February 18.
ADI WEDA/EPA/LANDOV
A woman takes a selfie in front of an art installation set up for Lunar New Year celebrations in a Hong Kong shopping mall on February 18.
A woman takes a selfie in front of an art installation set up for Lunar New Year celebrations in a Hong Kong shopping mall on February 18.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
A boy runs through a temple with Chinese lantern decorations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday, February 17.
A boy runs through a temple with Chinese lantern decorations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday, February 17.
Joshua Paul/AP
A dragon dance is performed in Kobe, Japan, on Sunday, February 15, in celebration of the Lunar New Year.
A dragon dance is performed in Kobe, Japan, on Sunday, February 15, in celebration of the Lunar New Year.
The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images
Chinese performers re-enact a traditional Qing Dynasty ceremony on Saturday, February 14, in which emperors prayed for good fortune at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
Chinese performers re-enact a traditional Qing Dynasty ceremony on Saturday, February 14, in which emperors prayed for good fortune at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
Stringer/AFP/Getty Images
A boy picks a lucky amulet on February 14 at a traditional flower market in Taipei, Taiwan, where Taiwanese shop for their home decorations to welcome the upcoming Lunar New Year.
A boy picks a lucky amulet on February 14 at a traditional flower market in Taipei, Taiwan, where Taiwanese shop for their home decorations to welcome the upcoming Lunar New Year.
SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images
Chinese travelers queue up at the main entrance of the Beijing railway station in Beijing on Friday, February 13. Millions of Chinese were to travel to their hometowns to celebrate the Lunar New Year on February 19, marking the Year of the Sheep.
Chinese travelers queue up at the main entrance of the Beijing railway station in Beijing on Friday, February 13. Millions of Chinese were to travel to their hometowns to celebrate the Lunar New Year on February 19, marking the Year of the Sheep.
Andy Wong/AP
Visitors look at lanterns in the shape of the Chinese Terracotta Warriors at Sydney Harbor on February 13. The artwork, created for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 by a team of Chinese artists, is on display for the first time in Australia to launch the Australian celebrations of the Lunar New Year.
Visitors look at lanterns in the shape of the Chinese Terracotta Warriors at Sydney Harbor on February 13. The artwork, created for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 by a team of Chinese artists, is on display for the first time in Australia to launch the Australian celebrations of the Lunar New Year.
PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images
Shoppers in Beijing buy holiday decorations Thursday, February 12, as the Lunar New Year, a massive celebration in many Asian countries, quickly approached.
Shoppers in Beijing buy holiday decorations Thursday, February 12, as the Lunar New Year, a massive celebration in many Asian countries, quickly approached.
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Lanterns are displayed as part of Lunar New Year decorations in Singapore on February 12.
Lanterns are displayed as part of Lunar New Year decorations in Singapore on February 12.
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images
A woman sells "Buddha hand" fruits for Tet, or Vietnamese Lunar New Year, in downtown Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 12.
A woman sells "Buddha hand" fruits for Tet, or Vietnamese Lunar New Year, in downtown Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 12.
HOANG DINH NAM/AFP/Getty Images
A Chinese god statue is cleaned at a temple in Jakarta, Indonesia, on February 12.
A Chinese god statue is cleaned at a temple in Jakarta, Indonesia, on February 12.
Tatan Syuflana/AP
Workers wearing panda costumes wait for the start of a promotional event in front of a department store in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, February 10.
Workers wearing panda costumes wait for the start of a promotional event in front of a department store in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, February 10.
Ahn Young-joon/AP
A woman poses for a photograph among decorations in Hong Kong on Friday, February 6.
A woman poses for a photograph among decorations in Hong Kong on Friday, February 6.
AP Photo/Kin Cheung
A calligrapher, left, writes auspicious characters on red paper to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong on Wednesday, February 4.
A calligrapher, left, writes auspicious characters on red paper to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong on Wednesday, February 4.
AP Photo/Kin Cheung
A girl admires painted lanterns during a festival in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on Saturday, January 31.
A girl admires painted lanterns during a festival in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on Saturday, January 31.
SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images
A couple takes a selfie against traditional Chinese lanterns at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday, January 28.
A couple takes a selfie against traditional Chinese lanterns at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday, January 28.
AP Photo/Joshua Paul
Tourists in Taipei, Taiwan, walk past a statue made by Taiwanese sculptor Hung Yi to celebrate the Year of the Sheep on Friday, January 23.
Tourists in Taipei, Taiwan, walk past a statue made by Taiwanese sculptor Hung Yi to celebrate the Year of the Sheep on Friday, January 23.
SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images
College students in China's Shandong province paint sheep on their hands on Tuesday, December 30.
College students in China's Shandong province paint sheep on their hands on Tuesday, December 30.
STR/AFP/Getty Images
A pedestrian checks her cell phone in front of a department store in Tokyo on Friday, December 26.
A pedestrian checks her cell phone in front of a department store in Tokyo on Friday, December 26.
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images
Lunar New Year 2015

On February 17, Beijing Capital International Airport was the most frequently used airport in the migration, followed by Guangzhou’s Baiyun International Airport and Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen – major cities with significant populations of migrant workers – have been seeing the biggest departures in the country.

Since February 11, Chongqing has welcomed the most returnees home.

The most traveled route is from Shanghai to Lu’an in Anhui Province (a 550-kilometer journey).

Some 2.8 billion trips using public transport networks are expected to be made this year.

If private vehicles are included, 3.7 billion trips in total will be made during the 40 days, an increase of 100 million trips over last year.

These trip figures equal the combined population of the Americas, Africa, Europe and Oceania, according to a report on Chinese website People.cn.

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