Millions of Chinese grind to a halt as the nation travels during the annual holiday period.
China’s “Golden Week” national holiday is under way, and social media users are making light of travel problems that are dogging the annual getaway.
Social media are dominated by video and images of the congestion that is hampering travel to popular destinations such as Beijing.
Official newspaper China Daily estimates that some 650 million people will travel within China this week, with a further six million heading abroad.
Golden Week is one of only two extended periods in which Chinese people can take time off during the year, the other being Chinese New Year, which falls in January or February.
Related hashtags have been going viral on popular microblog Sina Weibo since people began embarking on journeys a few days ago.
Tens of thousands of users are posting using #ImOnTheLongRoadDuringTheLongBreak and #OnTheRoadDuringGoldenWeek to discuss the delays and congestion. Images of extreme congestion posted via Sina Weibo have been a big draw.
And mainstream news portals including Sina News have warned travellers to take extra precautions, posting survival guides and warning of the dangers of dehydration and heatstroke.
The official China News Service agency has shared a composite of pictures and videos, attracting more than 1,000 user comments.
