China’s railway system experienced an unprecedented surge in passenger numbers during the 2026 National Day holiday, transporting over 152 million passengers in just seven days. This remarkable figure, coupled with several other key metrics, has set new historical highs for the nation’s rail travel.
Record-Breaking Passenger Flow
The week-long holiday saw a consistent and substantial flow of travelers, with a national daily passenger volume exceeding 20 million for six of the seven days. The very first day of the holiday alone witnessed a staggering 25.204 million passengers, marking a new all-time high for single-day rail transport.
This surge in travel demand is attributed to favorable weather conditions across most of the country, combined with a strong desire for tourism, family visits, and leisure activities. The railway network effectively responded to this demand by implementing a peak operating schedule, optimizing both high-speed and conventional train capacity.
Guangzhou South Station Hits Milestone
A significant operational achievement was recorded by Guangzhou South Station, which became the first railway station in China to handle over one million passengers in a single day. On October 1st, the station recorded a combined arrival and departure figure of 1.049 million travelers, underscoring the immense scale of movement during the holiday period.
Enhanced Capacity and New Infrastructure
To manage the record passenger volume, the national railways operated approximately 13,000 passenger trains daily. Special attention was given to high-speed lines, with an increase of up to 700 additional trains on days with particularly high demand, including overnight services on major routes like the Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Guangzhou, and Beijing-Harbin high-speed lines during the night of October 1st and the early morning hours of October 5th to 7th.
Furthermore, the holiday period benefited from the simultaneous opening of several new high-speed rail lines just prior to the festivities. These new lines have added over 1,100 kilometers to China’s high-speed rail network. The expansion not only provides enhanced travel convenience for passengers along the new routes but also serves as a catalyst for boosting holiday consumption in the connected regions.
The success of the 2026 National Day holiday travel period highlights the continued growth and operational excellence of China’s railway network, demonstrating its crucial role in facilitating national mobility and economic activity.
