China's railways, expressways receive growing tourists ahead of May Day holiday

China's railways and expressways are set to receive growing numbers of tourists as the five-day May Day holiday is to start on Friday.

Many holiday-makers have already left for their tourism destinations one day ahead to avoid the travel peak expected to come on Friday and Saturday.

"I'm just passing through from Zhejiang (Province). Since schools there are on spring break, I'm taking my kid to travel. We set off early, because if we wait until the May Day holiday, the 1st and 2nd of May would be way too crowded," said Yan Meng, a passenger at Nanjing Railway Station.

China's railways are expected to handle 158 million passenger trips during the May Day holiday travel period -- an eight-day travel rush from April 29 to May 6, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd said on Wednesday.

During this period, an average of 12,000 passenger trains are scheduled to run daily. May 1 is projected to be the busiest day, with an estimated 24.5 million passenger trips -- the holiday's peak single-day figure.

In northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, many tourists are traveling to Kazakhstan through the land port of Horgos.

With the mutual 30-day visa-free agreement between China and Kazakhstan, many domestic and international tourists are traveling through the port daily.

"I'm traveling abroad to see and explore different places. I want to record the beautiful experiences along the way," said He Ying, a Chinese tourist.

China's railways, expressways receive growing tourists ahead of May Day holiday

The Standing Committee of China's 14th National People's Congress (NPC) concluded its 22nd session on Thursday morning in Beijing.

At the closing meeting, lawmakers voted to approve the revised Prison Law and Social Assistance Law, remove Han Jun from the post of minister of agriculture and rural affairs, appoint Zhang Zhu as the minister, and appoint Zhang Chengzhong as minister of emergency management.

President Xi Jinping signed presidential orders on the removal and appointments.

NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji presided over the closing meeting, which also approved a deputy qualification report.

The meeting adopted decisions on approving a treaty on judicial assistance in criminal affairs between China and Azerbaijan, and a treaty of permanent good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation between China and five Central Asian countries, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The legislators voted to remove Feng Yi from the post of deputy secretary-general of the NPC Standing Committee, among other appointments and removals. Zhao presided over a lecture for lawmakers after the closing meeting.

The Standing Committee held an oath-taking ceremony to pledge allegiance to the Constitution at the Great Hall of the People on the day.

China's top legislature concludes standing committee session