BEIJING — China’s railway network marked a historic milestone on May 1, handling a staggering 20.69 million passenger trips on the first day of the May Day holiday, according to the China State Railway Group (CSRG). This figure represents the highest single-day passenger volume ever recorded on the nation’s railways.
The five-day May Day holiday, spanning from May 1 to May 5, is witnessing an unprecedented surge in domestic travel. A Ministry of Transport official announced earlier that an average of 270 million trips are expected to be made through both private and public transportation modes during the holiday period. This surge surpasses mobility levels seen in both 2023 and the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
At Beijing Capital International Airport, travelers expressed excitement about their holiday plans. “We will spend our holiday in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. We’ve heard it’s very beautiful, and we are carrying lots of photography equipment to take pictures there,” a passenger told CGTN on Wednesday.
Airport authorities anticipate handling over 918,000 passenger trips during the holiday, marking a year-on-year increase of approximately 21 percent. More than 5,800 flights are expected to operate during this period.
“It is expected that there will be a return peak on May 5, with about 207,000 passenger trips and over 1,200 flights taking off or landing throughout the day,” said Cui Yali, assistant manager of the Terminal Area Monitor and Control Center at Beijing Capital International Airport.
Shi Mengmeng, head of the Aviation Development Sector at the airport, highlighted the most popular travel destinations. “Some of the most popular destinations include Chengdu, Shanghai, Sanya, and Hong Kong, as well as cities in Japan and the Republic of Korea, such as Tokyo and Seoul,” she told CGTN.
The surge in travel reflects a robust rebound in China’s tourism and transportation sectors, signifying a strong desire among residents to explore both domestic and international destinations. The hospitality and service industries are gearing up to accommodate the influx of travelers, with many businesses reporting full bookings and increased demand.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com