China has set a new holiday travel record, reporting over 78.75 million railway passenger trips during the recent Dragon Boat Festival holiday. This marks a 3.5% increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from the China State Railway Group.
The five-day holiday, which spanned from May 30 to June 3, saw a significant surge in travel due to the overlap of the traditional Dragon Boat Festival and International Children’s Day. This unique combination fueled a spike in family visits and domestic tourism across the country.
To meet the growing demand, China’s railway network stepped up operations, running an average of 12,142 passenger trains each day—an increase of 9.9% from the previous year. Travelers enjoyed enhanced services and festive activities at over 1,000 train stations and on selected trains. These included interactive events like making zongzi (traditional rice dumplings), weaving colorful bracelets, and participating in holiday-themed trivia games.
Service improvements also featured streamlined ticketing and transfer procedures, better catering options, and tailored assistance for elderly passengers, children, and those with special needs. These enhancements aimed to provide a smoother and more enjoyable travel experience for all passengers.
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional holiday that commemorates the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan. Celebrated with boat races, zongzi, and various cultural activities, it is one of China’s most vibrant festivals.
This record-setting travel period reflects not only the festive spirit but also the resilience and recovery of domestic tourism in China.
