Passenger travel is expected to witness a slight increase in China during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, with the total number of cross-regional trips nationwide expected to reach 650 million, averaging about 220 million trips per day.

At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on Thursday afternoon, Li Yang, Vice Minister of Transport, said passenger travel is expected to rise slightly from normal levels during the holiday.

Li said most trips will be to return home to visit family and relatives or to visit friends. Short-distance travel to nearby destinations, including rural areas, is also expected to be popular.

To properly handle and contain potential travel hazards, emergency response officials have issued safety alerts ahead of the holidays at a press briefing held by the Ministry of Emergency Management on Thursday afternoon.

This year's three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday comes just days before the seven-day National Day holiday, which is expected to increase travel demand further and put additional pressure on transportation and public safety.

Gong Jianguo, Deputy Director of the Driver Safety Research Department at the Road Traffic Safety Research Center of the Ministry of Public Security, shared preparation tips for smart vehicles for long-distance travel.

"Making sure cars travel at the required speed and do not cruise at a slow speed to purposely lower electricity consumption," Gong added.

Shen Zhanli, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Emergency Management, shared that tourist attractions, passenger transport operators and other businesses should closely monitor weather forecasts and geological disaster alerts, and take decisive measures, including traffic controls or temporary closures, when necessary.

With travel expected to pick up during the holidays, authorities are calling on travelers and transport operators to remain vigilant, plan and respond promptly to potential risks, helping ensure a safe and smooth journey for all.