Operators are maintaining the national train ticket website.

China's vice-minister of railways Hu Yadong said Sunday that the country's national train ticket website (www.12306.cn) received more than 1 billion hits daily between January 1-7, Xinhua reported.

"Some industry experts said the website may have set a record," said Hu, adding that at least 10 million people registered at the website. It is estimated that the rail system will handle 235 million passenger trip requests in 40 days, or 5.88 million passenger trip requests each day.

China started the Spring Festival peak travel season Sunday. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on January 23 this year. It is the most important traditional Chinese festival for family reunions.

A total of 3.16 billion passenger trips are expected during the 40-day peak travel season, up 9.1 percent from a year earlier, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

However, many Chinese have expressed dissatisfaction with the website, with some people unable to get train tickets home.