China's May Day holiday sparks massive travel surge across transport networks

China’s May Day holiday is set to see a busy travel period across all transport modes. Millions will take to roads, railways, and skies, with some sectors showing growth compared to last year. Railways will handle the largest share of travellers, with 24.8 million passenger trips expected. This marks a 7.3 percent rise from the same holiday last year. Road journeys will also increase, reaching 315.24 million trips—a 3.2 percent climb.

Air travel, however, will see a slight dip. Around 2.33 million trips are forecast, down 0.7 percent from 2023. Despite this, the busiest day for flights is still expected to exceed 2.4 million passengers. Waterways will contribute 1.73 million trips, up 4.9 percent year on year.

The Ministry of Transport reported that inbound and outbound passenger flows will average 2.25 million daily during the five-day break. The holiday period will test transport networks as millions move across the country. While railways and waterways see growth, air travel remains slightly below last year’s figures. Authorities continue to monitor passenger flows to manage demand.