BEIJING - More than 70,000 police were deployed to train stations across China to manage orders and ensure travelers' safety on Saturday, when the nation begins the biggest annual migration on earth.

They will carry out all-day patrols in squares, waiting rooms and ticket lobbies, platforms and trains to leave no room for "dangerous things," according to the railway police authorities under the Ministry of Public Security.

The authorities said they also sent 96 teams to focus on smashing crimes including pick-pocketing and bag-snatching.

Chinese tend to return home to get together with their family members to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on February 10 this year.

During the 40-day period from Saturday to March 6, Chinese people are expected to make more than 220 million journeys by rail.

Another 3.2 billion journeys are expected by highways, water and air.