China expects surges in entry-exit trips during upcoming National Day holiday

China is expecting a surge in outbound trips during the upcoming week-long National Day holiday and an even greater increase of 60 percent in inbound travels thanks to the country's 144-hour visa-free transit policy.

The National Day holiday, which starts Oct 1 and is known as 'Golden Week', is one of China's biggest annual public holidays.

According to the data from Qunar, a leading Chinese online travel platform, the placed orders for flights and hotels for the holiday have covered 1,597 cities in 144 countries.

Among the destinations, most are within the five-hour flight, with Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and Osaka at the top.

The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region estimates that about 10.03 million people will enter the city by sea, land and air from Sept 28 to Oct 7, and the Hong Kong Airlines will handle 14 percent more passengers than in the same period last year.

In the meantime, the declining ticket prices due to the rapid resumption of international flights will also lead to a higher number of long outbound trips during the holiday, with African countries claiming more than half of the newly added destinations.

"Many popular long-haul tourism products for the holiday to Europe, the Middle East and Africa have been sold out over one month ahead. The sales of tickets for flights to Egypt, Türkiye, Hungary and Kenya have increased by more than three times year on year," said Teng Hao, a senior researcher.

At present, foreign nationals from 54 countries such as the United States, Canada, and Britain are eligible for the 144-hour visa-free policy at 37 entry ports across China for the purpose of short-term activities such as travel and business visits.

In addition, traditional tourism cities such as Guangzhou in the southern province of Guangdong, Xi'an in the northwestern province of Shaanxi, and Zhangjiajie in the central province of Hunan, have constantly increased international flight routes to attract more foreign tourists.

Zhangjiajie's sources of tourists have increased from 133 countries and regions in 2019 to the current 171 countries and regions.

"We are from Thailand. Zhangjiajie is a natural world heritage site with a breathtaking scenery. Each tour group has 35 members. We came together in five groups with more than 100 people," said a tour guide from Thailand.

"The Zhangjiajie port has been hustling since the Mid-Autumn Festival, with around 1,200 people entering the city per day. Based on the current trend, this figure is expected to rise to around 1,500, an increase of 20 percent," said Zhuo Xing, a border inspection officer at the port.

China expects surges in entry-exit trips during upcoming National Day holiday

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media