China's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday Sees Historic Surge in Passenger Traffic

Unprecedented Travel Volume Marks Golden Week

China's cross-regional passenger flow surged to a historic high of approximately 1.24 billion trips during the first half of the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday in 2023. This extended holiday, which combined the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, ran from September 29 to October 6, 2023, signaling a robust recovery and heightened public mobility across the nation.

Record-Breaking Domestic Tourism and Revenue

The entire eight-day holiday period witnessed a remarkable resurgence in domestic tourism. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Chinese citizens made 826 million domestic tourist trips. This figure represents a substantial increase of 71.3 percent compared to the same holiday period in 2022, and a 4.1 percent rise from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The economic impact was equally significant, with domestic tourism revenue reaching approximately 753.43 billion yuan (about 103.2 billion U.S. dollars). This marks a staggering 129.5 percent year-on-year increase from 2022 and a 1.5 percent increase compared to the National Day holiday in 2019.

Diverse Modes of Transport Experience High Demand

The surge in travel demand was distributed across various transportation sectors. Railways, a primary mode for long-distance travel, experienced exceptionally high traffic. On September 29, 2023, the first day of the holiday, China's railways handled a record-breaking 23.13 million passenger trips, according to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. Road traffic also accounted for a significant portion of the cross-regional movement, with millions opting for private vehicles for their journeys. The Ministry of Transport highlighted the comprehensive nature of this passenger flow, encompassing all forms of inter-regional travel.

Economic Boost and Future Outlook

The robust travel and consumption figures during the 2023 Golden Week underscore the strong vitality of China's domestic market. The extended holiday, strategically combining two major festivals, effectively stimulated consumer spending and provided a significant boost to the tourism sector. This period served as a key indicator of the ongoing recovery and growth trajectory of the Chinese economy, reflecting a strong public desire for travel and leisure activities following previous periods of restricted movement.