Holiday travel highlights China's transport strength

For Zhang Yang and his family in Ankang, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, this year's National Day holiday was a memorable one. On Oct 1, following the opening of the Xi'an-Ankang high-speed railway, they took a direct high-speed train from Ankang to Yan'an, a city known for its revolutionary history.

The journey, which once took more than seven hours, now takes just over two hours.

The Zhang family was among millions on the move during the National Day holiday from Oct 1 to 7, one of China's peak periods for travel and spending.

Data from the Ministry of Transport showed cross-regional passenger trips exceeded 300 million on each of the first three days of the holiday. China State Railway Group said the country's railways handled over 25.2 million passenger trips on Oct 1, setting a new single-day record.

For a country as vast as China, moving hundreds of millions of people during a holiday rush is a feat of scale. Behind this feat lies a transport network built up over decades.

By the end of 2025, China's comprehensive transport network spanned more than 6 million kilometers, including the world's largest high-speed rail network. High-speed railways, expressways, airports and ports connect cities, towns and rural areas across the country.

The network continues to expand. On Sept 28, China opened four major high-speed railway sections across northern, northwestern, central and northeastern China, with a combined length of more than 1,100 km. The new lines have shortened travel time and put more destinations within easy reach of families like Zhang's.

China's transport development goes beyond faster journeys. Better supporting services are also making travel more convenient.

New energy vehicles have become increasingly common among Chinese households and are now a popular choice for long-distance travel. The Ministry of Transport expects NEV trips on expressways during the holiday to reach 1.8 times the usual level, pushing up demand for charging services.