China’s railways reach peak of national day holiday return rush

• Records over 2.1bn domestic trips, average 306m per day

• Chinese govt says numbers roughly equivalent to 90 per cent of US population on the move every day for a whole week

____________________________________________________________

China’s railways, on Wednesday, reached peak of the national day holiday return rush, recording a total number of 2.1 billion domestic trips and an average of 306 million per day.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning, while displaying the figures on her X handle, explained that the numbers recorded during China’s week-long national day holidays were roughly equivalent to 90 per cent of the United States population being on the move every day for a whole week.

“Holiday journeys were safe and smooth thanks to dense high-speed rail (50,000+ km) and expressway (199,000 km) networks, and rapid response,” Mao said.

Also writing on his X handle, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said: “China’s railways saw the peak of the holiday return rush on Wednesday, with 24.15 million passenger trips expected on the final day of the National Day holiday, amid strong travel demand and vibrant tourism activity across the country.”

Data from the Chinese Railways Authorities showed that 24.15 million passenger trips were expected on the final day of the holiday as 2,449 additional passenger trains were scheduled for October 7, 2026.

On October 6, railways handled 21.6 million passenger trips, marking the third consecutive day with more than 20 million journeys.

Railways authorities in China added services and expanded overnight operations to facilitate the return rush.

In a report titled ‘China’s railways see holiday return peak amid vibrant tourism market,’ Xinhua News Agency reported that China’s railways saw the peak of the holiday return rush on Wednesday, with 24.15 million passenger trips expected on the final day of the National Day holiday, amid strong travel demand and vibrant tourism activity across the country.

“A total of 2,449 additional passenger trains were scheduled on Wednesday to cope with the surge in demand, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

“On Tuesday, the country’s railways handled 21.6 million passenger trips, marking the third consecutive day with more than 20 million journeys.

“Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Chongqing and Shanghai were among the busiest cities for departures and arrivals, while passenger flows were particularly heavy on routes including Beijing-Shanghai, Wuhan-Shanghai, Wuhan-Shenzhen and Xi’an-Chengdu.

“Railway authorities across the country added services and expanded overnight operations to facilitate the return rush as China’s tourism market remained vibrant during the seven-day holiday, with county-level destinations and nighttime consumption emerging as notable trends.

“County-level destinations gained popularity as travellers increasingly sought slower-paced and more immersive experiences away from major cities.

“From the coastal county of Lingshui in South China’s Hainan Province to Mohe, a county-level city on the country’s northern frontier, smaller destinations are drawing visitors with distinctive local experiences.

“Meanwhile, night-time consumption flourished in many cities, with cultural performances, night markets, light shows and food fairs extending visitor stays and enriching holiday experiences,” the state-owned news agency wrote.

The post China’s railways reach peak of national day holiday return rush appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.