China Sees Record Travel Numbers During May Day Holiday
Surge in passenger journeys reflects robust tourism demand and economic activity.
China's transport services reported substantial increases in passenger numbers on May 1, 2025, the inaugural day of the May Day holiday, signifying robust tourism demand and economic vitality within the country.
Statistics from the Ministry of Transport indicated that inter-regional passenger trips reached 332.7 million, marking a 6.2 percent increase compared to the same day in the previous year.
Road travel constituted the majority of these journeys, with 305.61 million passenger trips recorded, representing a year-on-year growth of 4.7 percent.
Additionally, passenger travel via waterway experienced a remarkable surge of 87.5 percent compared to the same day last year, while air travel also saw an 8.9 percent rise.
The railway sector played a significant role in accommodating the increased travel demand, handling a record 23.12 million passenger trips, which reflects an 11.7 percent year-on-year increase.
To meet the surge in traffic, 13,800 passenger trains were deployed on May 1, as reported by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. This organization has projected that total railway passenger trips for the May Day period, spanning from April 29 to May 6, are expected to reach approximately 144 million.
Analysis of travel trends highlighted that popular destinations for holiday travelers include major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Nanjing, and Zhengzhou.
In contrast to the short-distance journeys customary during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday, May Day travelers are inclined to venture farther and explore a greater diversity of destinations.
On May 1, tourism-related activities spanned 1,229 counties across the nation, with bookings for these destinations up by 20 percent compared to the previous year, as noted by online travel agency Qunar.com.
Statistics from the Ministry of Transport indicated that inter-regional passenger trips reached 332.7 million, marking a 6.2 percent increase compared to the same day in the previous year.
Road travel constituted the majority of these journeys, with 305.61 million passenger trips recorded, representing a year-on-year growth of 4.7 percent.
Additionally, passenger travel via waterway experienced a remarkable surge of 87.5 percent compared to the same day last year, while air travel also saw an 8.9 percent rise.
The railway sector played a significant role in accommodating the increased travel demand, handling a record 23.12 million passenger trips, which reflects an 11.7 percent year-on-year increase.
To meet the surge in traffic, 13,800 passenger trains were deployed on May 1, as reported by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. This organization has projected that total railway passenger trips for the May Day period, spanning from April 29 to May 6, are expected to reach approximately 144 million.
Analysis of travel trends highlighted that popular destinations for holiday travelers include major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Nanjing, and Zhengzhou.
In contrast to the short-distance journeys customary during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday, May Day travelers are inclined to venture farther and explore a greater diversity of destinations.
On May 1, tourism-related activities spanned 1,229 counties across the nation, with bookings for these destinations up by 20 percent compared to the previous year, as noted by online travel agency Qunar.com.
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