By Alex 
China’s railway system witnessed a significant surge in passenger traffic during the 2025 “May Day” holiday, with the total number of passengers transported reaching a remarkable 112 million from April 29 to May 4. This figure represents a year-on-year increase of 10.5%, highlighting the strong travel demand during the holiday period.
Record-Breaking Passenger Volume
The railway system handled a staggering 19.786 million passengers on May 4 alone. The return journey on May 5 saw an even higher volume, with an estimated 21.1 million passengers traveling by rail. To accommodate the massive influx of travelers, an additional 1,896 passenger trains were scheduled, ensuring that the transportation network could handle the increased demand.
Popular Travel Destinations
The holiday period saw a significant increase in travel across the country, with popular departure cities including Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xi’an, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhengzhou, and Changsha. These cities also topped the list of popular destinations, reflecting a nationwide trend of domestic tourism. High traffic was particularly noted on routes such as Beijing-Shanghai, Xi’an-Chengdu, Shenyang-Beijing, Beijing-Hohhot, Nanning-Guangzhou, Wuhan-Shanghai, and Taiyuan-Beijing.
Enhanced Transportation and Service Measures
To ensure a smooth and efficient travel experience, railway departments across the country meticulously organized transportation during the peak return period. They implemented several measures to enhance service quality and operational capacity:
– Increased Operational Capacity: Additional trains were scheduled to accommodate the high volume of passengers, ensuring that travelers had more options for their journeys.
– Enhanced Service Guidance: Railway staff provided comprehensive guidance at various stages of the travel process, including ticket purchasing, waiting, boarding, transferring, and connecting with other transportation modes. This helped to streamline the travel experience and reduce congestion.
– Effective Weather Management: Despite adverse weather conditions in some regions, railway departments effectively managed these challenges, ensuring safe and orderly travel for all passengers.
Safe and Stable Operations
Despite the unprecedented volume of passengers, the railway transport system remained safe and stable throughout the holiday period. Railway authorities implemented stringent safety measures and robust contingency plans to handle any potential issues. The successful management of such a high volume of passengers is a testament to the efficiency and resilience of China’s railway system.
Future Outlook
The strong passenger volume during the “May Day” holiday highlights the growing trend of domestic tourism in China. As more people choose to travel within the country, the railway system continues to play a crucial role in facilitating these journeys. The successful handling of this peak travel period also demonstrates the railway department’s ability to adapt and enhance its services to meet the evolving needs of travelers.
In summary, the railway system’s ability to transport over 100 million passengers during the “May Day” holiday is a remarkable achievement. It underscores the importance of the railway network in supporting domestic tourism and highlights the ongoing efforts to improve transportation services and infrastructure.