China's Dragon Boat Festival Sees 657 Million Cross-Regional Trips, Breaking Travel Records

China experienced a significant surge in travel activity over the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, with a projected 657 million cross-regional trips made between May 31 and June 2. This translates to an average of 219 million trips per day, reflecting a 3 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

The railway network played a crucial role in accommodating the travel demand, as 47.108 million railway trips were recorded nationwide. On average, 15.7 million passengers took to the rails each day during the festival, representing a notable 2.3 percent year-on-year growth. Major transport hubs, such as Nanjing Railway Station in Jiangsu Province, witnessed bustling crowds as travelers set off to celebrate the traditional festival with their families and friends.

Road transportation remained the dominant mode for holiday mobility. Nationwide, highways and roads saw a staggering 600 million trips over the three-day period, equating to around 200 million daily journeys. This marks a 3.14 percent rise from last year's figures, highlighting both the vibrancy of domestic tourism and the robust demand for connectivity.

Other modes of travel also contributed to the holiday movement. Water transport handled 2.88 million passenger trips, while civil aviation managed 5.6 million trips over the holiday. These numbers break down to daily averages of 960,000 by water and 1.87 million by air. The uptick across all sectors underscores the festival’s cultural significance and the continued recovery and expansion in China's transportation industry.

The Dragon Boat Festival is not only a time-honored occasion marked by traditional activities such as dragon boat races and eating sticky rice dumplings, but it is also an important peak travel season. The consistent growth in transportation figures signals a strong momentum in China’s post-pandemic tourism and economic revival.