China's railways brace for upcoming travel rushes

 　　BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China's railway system is expecting heavy traffic during the travel rushes for the upcoming Qingming Festival and the May Day holiday, the Ministry¹ of Railways (MOR) said Friday.

　　According to the MOR's forecast, some 27.4 million passengers, up 8 percent year-on-year, will travel via the railway system during the Qingming Festival, which falls between April 1 and April 4.

　　Passenger flow is expected to peak on April 2 when 7.45 million people are expected to travel by train, according to the MOR.

　　The railway system expects to transport about 32 million passengers, or 8.5 percent more than last year, during the May Day holiday, which will be celebrated² from April 28 to May 1.

　　Demand for train tickets is high in China during the Qingming Festival, a time when people return home to sweep the tombs of their deceased relatives.

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。