China is witnessing an extraordinary surge in travel this week, as millions traverse the nation during the ongoing National Day holiday — a phenomenon that has established new records.
As reported by state broadcaster CCTV, on the inaugural day of the eight-day holiday on Wednesday, China’s national railway network documented 23.13 million trips, achieving an unprecedented single-day high. This represents an 8% increase compared to the same timeframe last year.
The travel momentum continued unabated. On Thursday alone, over 19 million railway trips were recorded, with the Yangtze River Delta Railway accommodating approximately four million passengers, reflecting an increase of more than 10% year-on-year, underscoring the significant movement concentrated in vital economic regions.
The extended National Day holiday — commonly referred to as the Golden Week — serves not only as a peak travel season but also as an essential indicator of consumer sentiment and economic vitality. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is set to publish detailed travel and expenditure statistics following the holiday’s conclusion on October 8.
According to Xinhua, referencing the Ministry of Transport, China anticipates approximately 2.36 billion passenger trips nationwide throughout the holiday period.
This translates to an average of 295 million trips per day, indicating a 3.2% increase over the same period in 2024, as noted in the report.
In 2024, China’s national rail network recorded 21.45 million trips on October 1, establishing a record at that time. In comparison, the figure was 17.13 million on the same day in 2019.
This year, the National Day holiday has been extended from the typical one week to eight days, coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, thereby providing travelers with additional time to explore.
On platforms such as Xiaohongshu, users have been actively sharing cost-saving travel advice, including suggestions to take overnight trains to reduce hotel expenses.
The Golden Week holiday is traditionally one of the busiest times in China’s travel calendar. Trip.com Group has forecasted that 2025 could herald one of the most dynamic travel seasons in recent years.
As the economy exhibits indications of deceleration, officials are optimistic that the holiday surge will encourage domestic expenditure.
At the same time, lesser-known and smaller cities are attracting interest from budget-minded Chinese tourists in search of economical retreats.
“I am planning to take my family to a village in Chizhou, Anhui,” Deng Xin, a 51-year-old resident of Beijing, was quoted by Reuters as stating.
“There are mountains and rivers, yet no crowds, and the costs are significantly lower compared to hotels in major cities,” Deng further remarked.
