BEIJING -- About 3.62 billion trips will be made during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush starting Thursday, an official said Tuesday.

The figure is about 200 million more than the previous year, said Lian Weiliang, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission at a press conference.

The peak of the travel season will strain the country's transport system and passengers may have difficulties in getting tickets in some regions, Lian warned.

Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on January 31 this year. It is the most important Chinese holiday for family reunions, making it a hectic time for the country's public transportation system.