CRI听力:Car Renting, a New Trend in Spring Festival Rush

With the busy travel season upon us here in China, where an estimated 3.6-billion trips are expected to be taken during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, many travelers are looking for alternative ways to move around the country.

CRI's Zhou Heyang has more.

Report: During this time of year, even scalped railway tickets are badly needed. For most people, spending hard-earned money on expensive airplane tickets is not an option. Under such circumstances, the car rental business is booming.

For those who have failed in the battle to get train tickets, when flights are beyond their affordability, renting a car to go back home might be their last hope.

Shao Wei, the Public Relations Chief of eHi, a popular car rental service in China, comments on this trend:

"Almost all the cars have been fully booked around the Spring Festival. The traditional Lunar New Year is very special to the Chinese. Everyone wants to go back home for the vacation. These years, more and more people are renting cars via the internet, or through other channels, to get home."

Renting a car provides great convenience for travelers, saving them from the burden of hectic, crowded train commutes.

Mr. Yang, a migrant worker in Guangdong Province says:

"Guangzhou is too crowded. I don't have a car because I think it's too troublesome to commute by car everyday in light of traffic. So I think it's convenient to rent a car when I need to visit my relatives or friends."

Still, the seemingly perfect alternative has its drawbacks.

Like train tickets the rental costs have been soaring since January 1st.

Mr Dai, a resident of Guangzhou, comments on the fees for renting a car increasing as the holiday approaches.

He says:

"The average fee for renting a car would be around 200 yuan a day, but it usually rises to 300 yuan or 400 yuan during the Spring Festival."

Still, there are some things that travelers should know in advance.

Safety comes first; choose a rental firm with a good reputation. Thoroughly research car-rental places online and you can probably obtain detailed information about the service quality of a rental company. When you do rent a car, carefully check the rental contract and car insurance information.

Travelers are advised to fully check the vehicle before departure to make sure they will arrive home safe and sound.

Shao Wei also suggests the travelers abide by traffic laws.

"Always obey traffic rules when you are on the road. According to official data, as many as 90 percent of car accidents in China are caused by drivers violating traffic laws. And when you enjoy quality time with your family and friends, please remember, never drink and drive."

For CRI, I'm Zhou Heyang.