As the eight-day combined National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday kicked off on Wednesday, millions of Chinese travelers opted for self-driving trips, sparking a significant surge in demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging across the country.
To support this green travel boom and ensure reliable charging on expressways and at tourist destinations, authorities nationwide have rolled out a series of targeted measures.
In Tacheng City in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, local power supply department conducted special inspections of charging stations near popular tourist areas to identify and eliminate potential safety hazards.
Anticipating peak electricity demand driven by the holiday rush, they also assembled emergency response teams equipped with mobile power generators to guarantee uninterrupted power supply throughout the holiday.
At the Tianmu Lake service area along the Changchun–Shenzhen Expressway in Changzhou City in east China's Jiangsu Province, authorities installed four additional 160-kilowatt fast chargers ahead of the holiday.
"The number of charging stations here has increased noticeably compared to last year, and there are clear signs guiding us to them," said Wang Lei, an EV owner who stopped at the service area.
Further down the same expressway, the Hongze Lake service area in Jiangsu's Huai'an City underwent a major upgrade to its charging infrastructure.
The total charging capacity was increased to 2.5 times its original level to alleviate long queues and reduce wait times for EV drivers.
In Meishan City in southwest China's Sichuan Province, power service teams visited restaurants and entertainment venues near tourist attractions to educate local businesses on safe electricity use, wildfire prevention, and the protection of power infrastructure.
Meanwhile, grid operators optimized power distribution strategies to ensure stable electricity supply for both tourist sites and EV charging facilities.
"During the combined National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, electricity demand in scenic areas has increased significantly. We have conducted comprehensive inspections of power supply lines, charging stations, and surrounding businesses to fully ensure safe and stable electricity supply, allowing tourists to enjoy a comfortable and worry-free visit," said Xiang Dewen, a staff member from the State Grid Renshou County Power Supply Company in Meishan.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, when the moon is full. It falls on Oct. 6 this year, coinciding with the National Day holiday.
China's National Day holiday travel rush fuels demand for EV charging
