Spring Festival Rush: GZ Baiyun Int'l Airport welcomes cross-border travel surge
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Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport is at the heart of the Spring Festival travel rush. This year, enhanced visa-free policies and new international routes are fueling a surge in cross-border travel. Our reporter brings us the latest from one of China's busiest travel hubs. 

HUANG FEI Guangzhou "Here at GZ Baiyun International Airport, the 2025 Spring Festival travel rush is in full swing, with over 61,000 flights, nearly 9.5 million passenger trips, and more than 238,000 tons of cargo and mail expected during this period. 

Cross-border travel is also booming thanks to enhanced visa-free policies, with three new international routes now connecting Guangzhou to Jeju, Bangkok, and Osaka. 

Border inspection officials predict a daily increase of 5 to 10 percent in passenger traffic, reaching as many as 49,000 passengers per day. 

Peak outbound travel is happening right now and expected to continue through Saturday, while inbound travel will likely peak between next Tuesday to Saturday. 

To handle the surge, Baiyun Border Inspection has streamlined customs procedures, including dedicated channels for foreign visitors on 240-hour visa-free transits. This policy allows nationals from 54 countries to stay in China for up to ten days without a visa, applicable at 60 entry and exit points across 24 provinces and regions, including here at Baiyun Airport. 

It's also worth noting that Baiyun Airport has been China's busiest airport in terms of annual passenger throughput for four years in a row. 

Road traffic to and from the airport is projected to surpass 8.5 million vehicles during this travel season. 

For public transportation, Guangzhou Metro is extending operations to accommodate the holiday rush. Tonight, on Chinese New Year's Eve, metro services will run 1.5 hours later than usual. 

This Spring Festival travel season is shaping up to be one of the busiest yet, as Baiyun Airport continues to set records and implement measures to ensure a safe, smooth and efficient experience for all travelers. 

Huang Fei, CGTN, Guangzhou."