China Sees 657 Million Cross-Regional Trips During Dragon Boat Festival Holiday

China witnessed a surge in domestic travel during this year’s Dragon Boat Festival holiday, with an estimated 657 million cross-regional trips recorded between May 31 and June 2. This figure translates to an average of 219 million trips per day, representing a 3 percent increase year on year as millions of travelers moved across the country to celebrate the traditional festival with family and friends.

Railways remained one of the most popular modes of transport, logging a total of 47.108 million passenger journeys. Daily train ridership averaged 15.7 million – up by 2.3 percent compared to last year’s festival period. The bustling crowds at major railway stations highlighted the continued importance of train travel for both short and long-distance journeys during peak holiday seasons.

Road transportation also saw significant growth, with 600 million journeys undertaken nationwide. On average, there were 200 million road trips each day, marking a year-on-year increase of 3.14 percent. Highways and expressways experienced heavy traffic flows, as many families opted for car or bus travel to reach their destinations.

While land transportation accounted for the vast majority of trips, water and air travel also played roles in the holiday movement. Water transport services handled 2.88 million passenger trips over the three-day period, averaging 960,000 journeys each day. Meanwhile, civil aviation served 5.6 million passengers, with daily averages reaching 1.87 million.

The increased mobility during the Dragon Boat Festival underscores not only the enduring cultural significance of this holiday but also the resilience and capacity of China's vast transportation network. Authorities reported that systems generally operated smoothly, with measures in place to manage the heavy volumes and ensure passengers’ safety and convenience throughout the festive period.