Qingming to increase congestion on roads

Get ready for heavy traffic from late March with the start of the Qingming Festival.

Qingming, falling on April 5 this year, is the traditional time for Chinese people to pay their respects to their ancestors.

A total of 6.42 million people are expected to visit the city's 44 cemeteries and 10 columbariums between March 30 and April 7, bringing an extra 836,000 vehicles onto the streets, according to the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

The number of tomb sweepers and extra vehicles will pose an increase of 7.1 percent and 7.9 percent from the same period last year, according to the bureau. About 10,500 urns are expected to be interred during the nine-day period, a rise of 4.1 percent.

The peak days for congestion will be March 30 and 31, and April 5, 6 and 7, with 5.19 million people expected to visit local tombs, bringing an extra 690,000 vehicles onto the roads, according to the bureau. The peak hours will last from 8am to 11:30am during the five days.

The extreme peak will be April 5, the day of Qingming and the first day of the holiday, when 2.34 million people are expected to visit cemeteries with an extra 305,000 vehicles on the roads. More than 7,000 urns will be interred on that day.

Shuttle buses will transfer people between Metro stations and cemeteries to relieve traffic pressure.