china ; millions struggle to get home for the lunar NEW YearUp to 100,000 train travellers were temporarily stranded on Monday at two stations as authorities struggle to cope with the estimated 2.9 billion trips that will be made around China during the 40-day "Spring Festival" travel rush Free upgrades for stranded Chinese travellers Beijing, Feb 3, 2016, AFP – Chinese rail authorities offered 10,000 stranded Lunar New Year travellers free upgrades to high-speed trains Wednesday as they tackled a huge backlog of passengers stuck in Guangzhou by snow and ice The city is the capital of the southern province of Guangdong, which as China's manufacturing powerhouse is a major hub for the vast numbers of migrant workers who leave their homes in the countryside to labour in factories Many only return home once a year, when tradition dictates that all family members must gather before midnight on the eve of the Lunar New Year which falls on February 8 this time The phenomenon puts huge pressure on the country's transport infrastructure and a big freeze in north and central China worsened the situation this year. Vast numbers were held up at two stations in Guangzhou when their outbound trains were many hours late reaching the city, with the crowds peaking at nearly 100,000 people at one point on Monday, local police said Travellers arrive with their bags at one of the main train stations in Guangzhou as they prepare to head home for the upcoming Lunar New Year in southern China's Guangdong province on FEB 3'16