China's Railway Travel Booms Ahead of Dragon Boat Festival Holiday
Chinese travelers favor Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou as top railway destinations nationwide.
China's vast railway network experienced a significant surge in passenger numbers on Saturday as the nation marked the beginning of the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. According to the national railway operator, a remarkable 17.8 million passenger trips were projected to take place on the first day of the festival, reflecting widespread enthusiasm for travel during one of China's most celebrated traditional holidays.
To accommodate this dramatic rise in demand, authorities introduced 1,029 extra trains on Saturday. This proactive measure came after an already impressive 15.78 million passengers traveled by railway on Friday, with all major operations reported to be running smoothly and safely. The station concourses across China's largest cities bustled with activity, underscoring the continued importance of rail as a backbone of holiday mobility.
Top destinations during the festival period include Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Zhengzhou. These urban centers are not only key transport hubs but also popular tourism and cultural sites, drawing families, groups of friends, and individual travelers eager to reunite or enjoy local festivities.
Railway authorities have responded to the influx by expanding transport capacity and introducing enhanced station services. In an effort to further enrich the journey, some stations have rolled out special cultural activities aligned with the Dragon Boat Festival, aiming to provide both convenience and a festive atmosphere for passengers on the move.
Over the entire five-day holiday period, the railway network is expected to handle approximately 80.5 million passenger trips. Such figures highlight the growing scale and efficiency of China's transport infrastructure, as well as the enduring appeal of traditional holidays for domestic travelers.
