China embraces travel rush on 1st day of National Day holiday

China is experiencing a nationwide travel rush on Wednesday, the first day of the National Day holiday.

Railways across the country are expected to transport 23 million passengers on the day, with 2,106 additional passenger trains scheduled to run.

A total of 18.463 million passenger trips was recorded by the railway system on Tuesday, with operations proceeding safely, smoothly and orderly.

Official data also shows a significant increase in long-distance travel across provinces and regions via highways.

Traffic volume on China's highway network is expected to reach its peak on Wednesday, approaching or reaching 70 million vehicles - approximately 2.1 times the usual daily average.

The civil aviation sector is projected to handle 19,682 flights on Wednesday, representing a 3.97 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Water transport nationwide is expected to carry over 1.17 million passengers on the day.

The ongoing holiday for China's National Day (Oct. 1) and Mid-Autumn Festival (Oct. 6 this year) will last for eight days.

China on Friday sent a sea-launched rocket from the waters near the eastern province of Shandong, placing a group of satellites into planned orbit.

The commercial rocket, CERES-1 Y7, blasted off at 04:10 (Beijing Time), carrying the satellites belonging to the Tianqi constellation. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center conducted this offshore mission.