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 Ministry 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 celebrated 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.