China is expected to record an average of 2 million daily border crossings during the upcoming eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday starting Wednesday, immigration authorities said Sunday.
According to the National Immigration Administration (NIA), this year's holidays, together with favorable policies such as visa-free entry and the resumption of flights, have fueled robust demand for cross-border travel.
The NIA noted that ports nationwide are bracing for a surge in inbound and outbound trips between October 1 and October 8, with traffic peaks projected on October 1 and October 6.
For now, airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou City in south China's Guangdong Province have already seen a surge in passenger volume.
Beijing's two airport ports are estimated to handle over 500,000 inbound and outbound passengers in the upcoming holiday, with the Capital International Airport seeing a daily average of 46,000 passengers, an 18-percent increase year on year, and the Daxing International Airport expecting an average of 18,000 passengers per day, up 28 percent year on year.
The number of inbound and outbound travelers via airport ports in Shanghai is projected to reach 883,000. As more foreign travelers would like to come to China, the average daily number of inbound foreign tourists at Pudong International Airport hit 16,600, marking a year-on-year increase of 46.9 percent.
"In terms of outbound travel, passengers from the Chinese mainland make up the majority at Pudong International Airport, with short-distance journeys mainly focusing on traditional destinations such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and regions of Hong Kong and Macao. Meanwhile, a 12-day longer holiday, which includes three days of annual leave, has boosted the recovery of long-haul travel. In this regard, there has been a significant increase in the number of tourists to Australia and European countries," said Li Ling, a customs officer of Shanghai Airport border inspection point.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has also been experiencing a surge in passenger traffic lately. It is expected to see over 400,000 border crossings during the holiday, a 15-percent increase over last year.
China forecasts average of 2 mln border crossings during upcoming holiday
China forecasts average of 2 mln border crossings during upcoming 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
