China's transport networks will see hundreds of millions of passengers on the move over the five day May Day holiday which started Thursday, with train stations and highways serving far more passengers than during the same holiday last year.
Around 22.5 million railway trips were expected on Thursday, up 8.7 compared to 2024, according to the Ministry of Transport, with an additional 1,341 trains scheduled to handle the rush on railway lines across the country.
The Yangtze River Delta region, one of the country's most populous and economically prosperous regions, has braced for record-breaking traffic during the holiday, with 4.27 million passengers on the move in a single day.
China Railway Guangzhou Group transported 3.3 million travelers on Thursday, while Chengdu Group carried 2.186 million passengers, both setting new single-day records.
To accommodate the surge in travel driven by tourism, family visits, and spring outings, railway authorities nationwide have stepped up efforts to ensure smooth operations.
In east China's Zhejiang province, express lanes were opened at stations, including at Jinhua, Yiwu, and Quzhou, to fast track passengers with less than 15 minutes before departure
Beijing West Railway Station rolled out elderly-friendly services, including dedicated "senior counters" for ticketing, inquiries, and assistance with online booking.
In Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, real-time crowd monitoring and targeted scheduling were implemented to ensure safe and punctual train operations during peak hours.
"By analyzing big data and historical traffic, we can accurately predict peak times and passenger volumes. This allows us to deploy additional staff and provide one-stop services such as ticketing guidance and entry flow management, minimizing wait times for travelers," said Wang Xin, director of Lintong Railway Station under the China Railway Xi'an Group.
The holiday is also a boost to inbound tourism, with many foreign travelers choosing to explore China via high-speed rail. China Railway Zhengzhou Group has introduced bilingual services to assist international passengers.
Thursday also witnessed heavy road traffic, with an estimated 314 million cross-regional road trips nationwide, up 7.8 percent from the first day of the holiday last year. Peak expressway traffic was expected to be more than double the normal daily volume.
Local transport authorities have developed targeted traffic plans to ensure smooth and safe journeys for holiday-makers.
To address rising electric vehicle (EVs) usage, many parts of the country have enhanced charging infrastructure.
At Sichuan's Pengzu Mountain Scenic Area, the power department has established a task force to inspect and maintain EV charging facilities.
In Shandong's Heze City, drone patrols and intelligent monitoring are being used to track charging equipment, while at Jiangsu's Dongtai service area along the Shenyang–Haikou Expressway, mobile charging trucks have been deployed based on big data forecasts to support EV users.
The total number of cross-regional passenger trips across China during the five-day holiday is projected to reach 1.42 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.5 percent.
May Day Holiday sees huge demand for travel across China
