China’s Railways Break Records During National Day Holiday

BEIJING, China — On the first day of the eight-day National Day holiday, China’s national railway recorded a historic high of 23.13 million passenger trips, up nearly 8% from the previous year, as reported by state media CCTV.

The surge in travel is attributed in part to the overlap with the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, prompting many families to travel. Railway officials expect more than 19 million trips on Thursday alone

The Yangtze River Delta Railway is projected to handle about four million of those trips, representing a more than 10% increase compared to last year’s figures. Other travel modes also reported growth; for instance, waterway travel rose by 20.5% with 1.32 million passengers on the first day, while air travel saw 2.47 million passengers, a rise of 3.2% from 2024.

The holiday season, extending from October 1 to October 8, is crucial for China’s economy, signaling consumer demand. Authorities anticipate approximately 2.36 billion passenger trips nationwide during this period, averaging 295 million daily.

Travelers have taken to social media platforms to share budget-friendly travel tips, such as opting for evening train journeys to save on lodging costs. With major cities like Guangzhou and Chongqing setting new records at their railway stations, the holiday season continues to unfold as one of China’s busiest travel periods.

Deng Xin, a Beijing resident, shared her plans to visit a village in Chizhou, Anhui. “There are mountains and rivers, but no crowds, and the price is far more affordable than hotels in big cities,” she noted.

As the holiday progresses, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will release comprehensive travel data, further highlighting the importance of this season for the Chinese tourism sector.