China's transport sector anticipates handling over 1.9 billion passenger trips during the upcoming National Day holiday starting October 1, according to the Ministry of Transport. The government is implementing various measures to ensure safe and smooth travel for all passengers.

Long holiday boosts cross-regional travel

Vice Minister Li Yang said during a press conference on Friday that traveling during the week-long holiday will mostly be driven by family reunions and sightseeing. An average of 277 million passenger trips are expected to be made daily during the holiday, a 19.4-percent increase compared to the same period in 2019.

Given the length of the holiday, cross-regional travel is anticipated to surge, with traditional destinations like Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou and Chengdu seeing strong booking numbers. Additionally, ticket bookings for locations in Chongqing, Yunnan, Sichuan and Xinjiang are leading the country in growth.

Fueled by the recent blockbuster video game "Black Myth: Wukong," north China's Shanxi has seen a phenomenal travel boom as it is home to many of the stunning locations featured in the game. Highway travel routes encompassing many of these locations, including ancient temples, towers and pagodas, have gone viral online.

The long holiday also presents a prime opportunity for outbound travel. Data from Trip.com reveals that increased flight capacity has lowered travel costs, with average ticket prices to destinations like Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Australia dropping over 20 percent. Consequently, visa applications for travel during the holiday have surged by 70 percent year on year.

Government efforts facilitate smooth travel

Since 2012, China has waived tolls for passenger cars during major holidays, significantly boosting demand for road trips. This policy will continue during this year's National Day holiday, and additional improvements are being made to facilities and services at highway rest areas. Nationwide, transport authorities have installed more charging stations to accommodate the rise in electric vehicles.

In Sichuan, for example, 98.3 percent of highway rest areas now feature charging poles, offering a total capacity of 190,000 kilowatts. To enhance road safety, the local transport department has upgraded roads and facilities around popular tourist spots and has collaborated with traffic bureaus to develop contingency plans for congestion.

At the national level, the Transport Ministry has issued targeted guidance to local departments to maximize transport capacity ahead of the holiday influx. Efforts are also underway to streamline the ticket purchasing process for public transport, particularly for the elderly and foreign travelers.

Since the beginning of the year, passenger transport in China has remained robust, with nearly 44 billion trips recorded in the first eight months, an increase of 6.1 percent from the same period last year, according to ministry data.