Border checkpoints across China are bracing for a travel rush during the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival holiday, with holidaymakers and family visits contributing to an estimated 2.2 million crossings per day.
The National Immigration Administration has projected an 11.7 percent year-on-year increase in border entries and exits for the three-day holiday that kicked off on Friday.
Land ports near Hong Kong and Macao are expected to see some of the heaviest traffic, due to a surge in travel demand and increasingly streamlined crossing procedures.
This year, the public holidays on the mainland and Hong Kong fall exactly at the same time. Both Shenzhen and Hong Kong have unveiled a lineup of cultural events and tourist activities, while the conclusion of the college entrance exams earlier this month has added extra steam, with many families seizing the chance to head out for a well-earned getaway.
The Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection forecasts that daily crossings will hit 1.05 million between Friday and Sunday, with the peak landing on Friday, when numbers could surpass 1.08 million.
Travel platforms are reporting a surge in holiday bookings. In the past week alone, reservations for inter-provincial flight and hotel packages jumped more than 90 percent from the previous week.
Events such as dragon boat culture festivals and night carnivals are set to keep the festive spirit alive throughout the break. Major shopping districts are also rolling out holiday promotions, luring Hong Kong residents northward for leisure and retail experiences.
"We expect inbound passenger peaks on Thursday evening and Friday morning, while outbound traffic is likely to peak on Sunday afternoon and evening," said Zhou Yin, deputy director of the frontier inspection division at the Shenzhen General Station.
The weekend of June 13 and 14, right after the college entrance exams, already saw a notable spike in cross-border travel through Zhuhai's ports to Hong Kong and Macao, driven largely by graduating students and family trips.
For the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the Zhuhai General Station projects total passenger flow will reach 2.16 million, a year-on-year increase of more than 10 percent. Daily crossings at major gateways including Gongbei, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and Hengqin are expected to top 720,000.
"I just finished my college entrance exams and now I'm out traveling. This is my first time crossing through Gongbei. It's also my first visit to Macao. It all feels so exciting," said a visitor from the mainland.
"We're planning to head to Hengqin for the holiday, just to stroll around the malls with family. The co-location clearance system makes crossing easier. You just place your ID on the reader, scan your fingerprint, and you're through in seconds," said a traveler from Macao.
This Sunday will see four concerts and one sporting event packed into a single day in Macao, and authorities expect a surge of inbound travelers at the Hengqin port after 22:00 that evening. Ports across the Greater Bay Area have already opened additional inspection lanes to cut waiting times, ensuring smooth and secure passage for the millions of travelers making their way across the border.
China expects 2.2 million daily cross-border trips during Dragon Boat Festival holiday
