The peak summer travel season, which lasts from the beginning of July to the end of August, starts nationwide on Thursday. 

Chinese railway authorities say some 40 extra trains will be added to help deal with the increased number of passengers, especially students taking summer holidays.

Officials estimate that nearly 195 million passengers will travel during the 10 weeks of heightened travel, two percent more than in the same period last year.

As the demand for train tickets will exceed the supply, tickets in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou will be sold 10 days in advance.

(CRI.com July 5, 2004)