China Sees Record 657 Million Cross-Regional Trips During Dragon Boat Festival
China's Dragon Boat Festival holiday sees a 3% rise in cross-regional trips, with over 657 million journeys planned.
Passengers crowded major transportation hubs across China during the recent Dragon Boat Festival holiday from May 31 to June 2, as cross-regional travel surged to remarkable levels. Official data indicates that an estimated 657 million trips were made nationwide over the three-day period, translating to an average of 219 million journeys per day. This figure represents a significant year-on-year increase of 3 percent, signaling continued growth in domestic mobility and tourism.
The country's extensive railway network played a pivotal role, recording 47.108 million passenger trips throughout the festival. Each day, about 15.7 million travelers boarded trains, up 2.3 percent compared to last year. Rail stations in major cities such as Nanjing, Shanghai, and Beijing experienced heavy foot traffic as families and tourists took advantage of the holiday to visit relatives, explore historical sites, and attend cultural festivities.
Road transport remained the backbone of holiday travel, with 600 million road trips taking place nationwide. This equates to approximately 200 million trips per day, showing a 3.14 percent increase year on year. Highways and expressways witnessed steady flows of cars and long-distance buses, while local authorities worked to manage congestion and ensure traveler safety.
Other modes of transportation also saw heightened activity during the festival. Water transport handled 2.88 million passenger trips, or 960,000 trips daily, while civil aviation accommodated 5.6 million passengers, averaging 1.87 million passengers per day. Airports and ferry terminals operated at near full capacity, reflecting the strong desire for leisure and family reunions during the traditional holiday.
The robust travel figures underscore the resilience and vitality of China's domestic travel sector, boosted by festive celebrations and improving public confidence. As the Dragon Boat Festival continues to serve as both a cultural and economic catalyst, transportation providers are expected to further innovate to meet increasing demand in future holiday periods.
