China's Labor Day holiday kicked off with a nationwide travel surge on Friday as millions took to trains, highways, ferries, and flights to start their holiday journeys.
Railway authorities estimated 24.8 million passenger trips nationwide on May 1 alone, with 2,070 extra trains added to meet travel demand.
On the highways, the Ministry of Transport projected daily expressway traffic to reach 70 million vehicle trips, the highest single-day figure ever for a Labor Day holiday, with tolls waived from May 1 to May 5 for passenger vehicles carrying no more than seven seats. Notably, nearly 24 percent of the traffic is made up of new energy vehicles.
The Maritime Safety Administration reported an estimated 9.2 million passenger trips during the holiday, up 6.8 percent year on year. Routes across the Qiongzhou Strait and popular city sightseeing cruises would be particularly busy.
On Friday, the Qiongzhou Strait alone was expected to handle 120,000 passenger trips and 31,000 vehicle trips, including 20,000 trips by new energy vehicles, a 60-percent increase over last year. Maritime authorities in Hainan, Guangdong, and Guangxi have completed special safety checks on 57 ferries and four barge vessels operating during the holiday.
Civil aviation experienced its own travel peak, with passenger flows concentrated among the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao, and Chengdu-Chongqing city clusters.
Labor Day holiday sees record high travel flow in China
Labor Day holiday sees record high travel flow in China
Officials and community representatives have expressed strong confidence that Macao's new five-year plan (2026-2030) for economic and social development will effectively leverage the special administrative region's advantages to advance the cause of "one country, two systems" and better integrate into and serve China's overall development.
The plan, released by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government on Tuesday, sets out eight development goals. It serves as a comprehensive roadmap for Macao's next phase of growth, aligning closely with the national 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) adopted by the National People's Congress in March.
"The Third Five-Year Plan is based on in-depth study and research into the new arrangements, new policies, new directions, key projects, and major initiatives of the national 15th Five-Year Plan and also considers the actual conditions and development needs of Macao and the Hengqin Cooperation Zone to identify Macao's strategic focus areas that leverage Macao's unique strengths and capabilities to meet national requirements and fully align with the national 15th Five-Year Plan," said Cheong Chok Man, director of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau of the Macao SAR.
Community leaders from various sectors have praised the plan's participatory drafting process and its ambitious yet pragmatic vision for the city's future. "The government has fully absorbed public opinion during the planning stage. This plan is not only the government's agenda but truly belongs to all sectors of society. It is designed to better harness the synergy between an effective market and a capable government. I believe the entire society would work together to advance the high-quality development of the 'one country, two systems' practice with Macao characteristics and better integrate into the nation's overall development," said Tong Kai Chung, dean of the Macao Institute of Management and a member of the SAR's sixth-term Executive Council. "The Third Five-Year Plan has drawn a new blueprint for Macao's future and provided clearer direction for our youth. The plan specifically emphasizes 'supporting youth growth and development.' What young people need most are opportunities and platforms. We believe that in the coming years, Macao's youth will find greater prospects in emerging fields such as technological innovation, the digital economy, cultural tourism, and convention and exhibitions," said Wong Chi Choi, chairman of the Macao New Youth Association.
The plan underscores the SAR government's commitment to promoting moderate economic diversification and strengthening Macao's role as a bridge connecting China with Portuguese-speaking countries and the broader global community.
Macao's sectors vow concerted efforts to usher in new era of high-quality development
