China saw 332.714 million inter-regional passenger trips on Thursday, May 1, the first day of the five-day May Day holiday.
The number represents a month-on-month increase of 56 percent, and a year-on-year rise of 6.2 percent.
Of the total, China's railway network handled a record of nearly 23.12 million passenger trips on Thursday, reflecting surging tourism demand and economic vitality.
The figure represents a year-on-year increase of 11.7 percent, and a month-on-month rise of 26.2 percent, according to data released by the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., on Friday.
To deal with the surge in passenger traffic, additional train services have been arranged, with 13,800 passenger trains operating on Thursday, according to the railway operator.
A travel rush is also expected between April 29 and May 6, with railway passenger trips forecast to reach a total of 144 million during the period, the railway operator said.
Cross-regional traffic on expressways and highways amounted to 305.61 million passenger trips on Thursday, up 59.3 percent month on month and 4.7 percent year on year.
The number of cross-regional waterway passenger trips reached 1.649 million on Thursday, rising 99.1 percent month on month and 87.5 percent from the same period last year; while that of cross-regional civil aviation passenger trips amounted to 2.336 million, up 0.5 percent month on month and 8.9 percent year on year.
China sees over 332.71 million passenger trips on May 1
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
