China’s Ministry of Transport has released new data revealing a significant surge in inter-regional travel during the National Day holiday. On October 4th, the fourth day of the Golden Week break, the total cross-regional passenger flow across the country reached an impressive 305.39 million person-times.
Holiday Travel Peaks
This figure represents a 0.6% increase compared to the previous day and a notable 1.3% rise compared to the same day during the 2025 National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. The data highlights the strong appetite for travel during public holidays, with citizens exploring different regions of China.
Sector-Specific Performance
Breaking down the numbers reveals varying trends across different transport sectors:
- Railways saw a substantial 10.8% year-on-year increase in passenger volume, with 20.32 million person-times. This sector also experienced a 5.4% increase from the previous day.
- Road transport accounted for the largest share of travelers, with 280.92 million person-times, a 0.8% increase year-on-year. Within this, 38.21 million person-times used public road transport (a 8.5% year-on-year increase), while private car usage on expressways and national/provincial roads saw a slight 0.3% decrease year-on-year, totaling 242.71 million person-times.
- Water transport experienced a decline, with passenger numbers dropping by 4.2% year-on-year to 1.828 million person-times. This sector also saw a significant 10.7% decrease from the previous day.
- Civil aviation showed a slight decrease of 1.4% year-on-year, with 232.3 million person-times. However, it did see a 2.8% increase in passenger volume compared to the previous day.
Context and Outlook
These figures indicate a robust recovery and continued growth in domestic tourism and travel within China. The positive trend in rail and road transport, especially the year-on-year growth, suggests a strong rebound in travel confidence. The slight dip in air and water transport may be attributed to various factors, including holiday-specific travel patterns and operational adjustments.
The Ministry of Transport’s data provides valuable insights into the mobility patterns of the Chinese population during peak holiday seasons, which is crucial for infrastructure planning, resource allocation, and understanding economic activity. The sustained increase in inter-regional movement underscores the importance of a well-connected transportation network for national cohesion and economic vitality.
Further analysis of these trends will be important in understanding the long-term impact on the tourism and transportation industries in China.
