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China's railways are set to handle 24.15 million passenger trips on Wednesday as National Day holiday makers are heading back to work, after a week-long break.

Railways added 2,449 extra passenger trains to cope, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

A view of passengers at Beijingnan Railway Station in Beijing, China, October 7, 2026. /VCG

On Tuesday, the network carried 21.6 million passenger trips, marking the third straight day above 20 million.

Metropolises like Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Chongqing and Shanghai saw the heaviest traffic. The busiest routes ran between Beijing and Shanghai, Wuhan and Shanghai, Wuhan and Shenzhen, and Xi'an and Chengdu.

Tourists enjoy surfing in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province, October 3, 2026. /VCG

This year, more travelers skipped the big cities. County-level destinations, from Lingshui on Hainan's coast in the south to Mohe on the northern frontier, drew visitors looking for slower trips and first-hand experiences of local culture.

Visitors flock to the Golden Dragon Parade Light Show on the Yulong River in Yangshuo County, Guilin City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, October 6, 2026. /VCG

And when they got there, they stayed out later. Night markets, light shows, cultural performances and food fairs kept towns busy into the evening.

(With input from Xinhua)

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China's railways hit the return peak as holidaymakers head home