China High-Speed Trains Create Spectacular May Day Holiday Departure

The first day of China's five-day May Day holiday, the country's railway network witnessed a travel peak as hundreds of high-speed trains departed from major stations across the country. Scenes of high activity were captured at railway stations in cities like Tianjin, Wuhan, Beijing, and Shanghai, with passengers boarding trains and preparing for their holiday travels.

China's railway network is expected to handle 144 million passenger trips during the eight-day May Day holiday travel rush, according to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. On the first day alone, the railway network is projected to see 20.4 million passenger trips, with the national railway operator planning to add more than 1,700 trains to meet the increased demand.

Images from various railway stations across China, including Xuzhou East, Jinhua, Harbin, Nanjing, and Zhengzhou East, show passengers queuing to check tickets, inquiring at service desks, and boarding trains as they prepare to depart for the holiday. The high volume of travelers highlights the significant role of China's extensive railway network in enabling domestic travel and transportation during major holiday periods.

Why this matters: The May Day holiday travel rush underscores the robust recovery of China's domestic tourism and transportation sectors following the lifting of strict COVID-19 control measures. The surge in passenger trips also highlights the importance of China's high-speed rail network in meeting the growing travel demands of its population.

To accommodate the increased passenger traffic, railway authorities have implemented measures such as adding more high-speed sleeper trains, coupling multiple trains, and attaching additional carriages to conventional passenger trains. The 12306 ticket booking platform is being used to monitor holiday passenger flow and schedule more temporary passenger trains as needed.

While the railway network is experiencing a significant surge in passengers, other modes of transportation are also seeing increased activity. About 58 million cars are expected on the roads during the holiday, while civil aviation authorities have planned 17,023 flights for May 1 alone. Waterway passenger traffic volume is expected to reach 900,000 trips on the first day of the holiday.

The mass departures of high-speed trains and the overall surge in passenger trips across various transportation modes mark a strong start to the May Day holiday travel season in China. As the country continues to recover from the impact of the pandemic, the robust travel demand during this period serves as a favorable sign for China's domestic tourism industry and economic growth.

Key Takeaways

• China's railway network handled 20.4 million passenger trips on May 1, 2024, the first day of the May Day holiday.
• The railway network is expected to handle 144 million passenger trips during the 8-day May Day holiday travel rush.
• Railway authorities added over 1,700 trains to meet the increased travel demand during the holiday period.
• About 58 million cars and 17,023 flights were expected on May 1, indicating a surge in overall transportation.
• The robust travel demand during the May Day holiday signals a strong recovery for China's domestic tourism and economy.