According to the China Railway Guangzhou Group, the railway network will operate a 12-day transportation surge from September 29 to October 10 during the 2025 National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. To accommodate the surge in passenger demand, the authority plans to add 3,376 temporary passenger trains, including 2,861 high-speed trains and 1,508 overnight high-speed trains.
The railway expects to handle 33.5 million passenger trips during this period, averaging 2.792 million daily trips—a year-on-year increase of 275,000 trips, or 10.9%. Passenger flows are projected to peak on October 1, with an estimated 3.55 million trips, marking a 12.2% growth of 385,000 trips compared to the same holiday period last year.
Data from the 12306 ticketing system and waiting list statistics indicate that holiday travel will be dominated by tourism and family reunions, supplemented by student, business, and migrant worker flows. Major routes will focus on high-demand corridors between megacities and tourist destinations such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha, Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, and Chengdu. Travel patterns are expected to follow an "N-shaped" trend, characterized by sharp fluctuations and peak volumes significantly exceeding regular levels.
The Guangzhou Group has emphasized that this coordinated capacity expansion and route optimization aim to ensure smooth, efficient, and safe travel for passengers during one of China's busiest holiday seasons.
This strategic deployment underscores the critical role of China's railway network in supporting mass mobility during peak travel periods, leveraging high-speed rail technology and dynamic scheduling to meet evolving passenger needs.
Author | Jiang Chang
Photo | CGTN
Editor | Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
