Travel surge expected on National Day week

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 3, 2026

China is expecting a record-breaking 2.13 billion cross-regional trips during the National Day holiday from October 1 to 7, with transportation sectors ramping up capacity to handle peak demand. This surge in travel is prompting expanded rail services, increased flight volumes, and advanced AI traffic management to alleviate congestion at major tourist and transit hubs.

China is preparing for a significant surge in travel during the upcoming National Day holiday, which runs from October 1 to 7. The Ministry of Transport anticipates about 2.13 billion cross-regional trips during the week-long holiday, averaging over 300 million daily journeys. The peak travel day is expected to be October 1, with approximately 340 million trips—almost double the usual daily volume.

The country’s railway system is managing the highest passenger flow in its history. China State Railway Group projects around 284 million railway passenger trips during the 16-day holiday travel period from September 23 to October 8. To meet demand, the railway operator plans about 13,000 passenger trains daily, including an additional 700 overnight high-speed rail services on major routes such as Beijing-Guangzhou, Beijing-Shanghai, and Beijing-Harbin. Key railway hubs, including Wuhan in Hubei province and Nanchang in Jiangxi province, have adopted round-the-clock operations to handle the increased traffic.

In the aviation sector, the Civil Aviation Administration of China expects to transport 31.19 million passengers from September 25 to October 7, averaging 2.4 million per day. This represents a 3.6% rise compared to previous periods. The single-day peak for air travel is projected to surpass 2.6 million passengers, exceeding figures from the same timeframe in 2025. International holiday ticket bookings have surged 22.5% year-on-year, with neighboring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Laos experiencing a 20% increase in flight volumes. Long-haul routes to the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain have also seen a 15% rise.

Road travel, particularly self-driving trips, is expected to dominate the holiday travel landscape, accounting for over 90% of all trips. Vice-Minister of Transport Li Yang highlighted that highway traffic alone is forecast to reach 71 million vehicle trips on October 1, nearly doubling the daily average of 37 million recorded in August. To mitigate congestion at popular tourist destinations and key thoroughfares, the Ministry of Transport has implemented measures including an AI-powered tool that analyzes historical and predictive data to identify potential traffic bottlenecks, allowing for proactive management of road networks during the holiday period.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.