Southern China's Great Bay Area on Sunday launched the first nighttime high-speed train service to ease the mounting pressure of the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush for 2026, which officially started a week ago.
At 22:12 on Sunday, the first overnight train departed from the bustling Guangzhou South Railway Station in Guangdong Province, transporting a large number of passengers on a four-hour journey to Wuhan, the capital city of central China's Hubei Province.
According to travelers, the introduction of the nighttime train service has provided them with extra travel options.
"The traffic on our way here wasn't as bad as it is during the day, so I think we've saved some time," said a passenger about the nighttime service.
Since the start of the Spring Festival travel rush, known as Chunyun, railway passenger traffic across the Greater Bay Area has continued to surge. Starting from Feb 8, China Railway Guangzhou Group has been handling more than 2 million passengers per day, and this high volume is expected to continue through Feb 15.
To manage the peak demand during the pre-holiday rush, the Guangzhou Railway Group plans to operate a total of 2,472 nighttime high-speed trains, with more than 400 additional services on peak travel days. These trains will connect southern hubs like Guangzhou and Shenzhen to major destinations including Wuhan, Chongqing, and Nanchang. During this period, most service areas at Guangzhou South Railway Station will remain open 24 hours a day.
"To meet passengers' needs, all service facilities at Guangzhou South Station are operating round-the-clock, ensuring ample supplies of hot water, food, and more. Efforts are being made to coordinate with local transportation departments to extend the service hours of other transit options, collectively enhancing the 'last mile' experience for travelers," said Zeng Yongxian, a staff member at Guangzhou South Railway Station under China Railway Guangzhou Group.
China's Greater Bay Area launches first nighttime train service for 2026 Spring Festival travel rush
China launched the second event of its 2026 "Big Market for All: Export to China" campaign in Hangzhou City of east China's Zhejiang on Sunday, as part of the country's broader push to expand imports and tap the purchasing power of its vast consumer market.
The three-day event, co-hosted by China's Ministry of Commerce and the People's Government of Zhejiang Province, is bringing together global brands, importers and consumers under one roof.
Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao attended the launch ceremony of the event and delivered an address.
More than 1,000 imported products are on display, from food and consumer goods to advanced industrial components.
The campaign aims to turn China's massive market into a gateway for global products, according to officials.
"The event highlights China's determination to independently expand unilateral and self-reliant opening-up. It is also China's active response to the needs of its global trading partners and our practical step to work together with them to grow the pie of international trade," said Xiao Lu, deputy director of the Department of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce.
Nearly 100 import-focused companies are taking part, showcasing products and exploring opportunities in China's fast-growing consumer market.
"We have selected popular product choices favored by Chinese tourists who have visited Egypt," said Cao Kezhen, chief representative for China at the CHIMENA (China-India-Middle East-North Africa) Business Council.
Starting from May 1, 2026, China will fully implement zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, so many Egyptian businesses are eager to explore the Chinese market, Cao said.
New technologies are also helping bring overseas products closer to Chinese consumers.
"In recent years, China has introduced a range of policies to encourage imports. These measures allow Chinese consumers to buy quality products from around the world at competitive prices through cross-border e-commerce. Going forward, we plan to shift more focus onto the development of a digital supply chain from the traditional supply chain, customs declaration and inspection, logistics, warehousing and distribution," said Shan Li, chairman of High Store Tech, a supply chain service provider for global brands.
Sunday's event followed the inaugural gathering, which took place under the same theme in the national capital Beijing in February.
China launches event in Hangzhou to expand imports, boost consumption
