Passengers wait at the departure hall of Guiyang North Railway Station in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 1, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua)

 
As China gears up to celebrate both National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival, the country is expected to experience a record surge in both inbound and outbound passenger traffic during the upcoming holiday period, according to a CCTV News report on Sunday.

Demand for cross-border travel is surging, driven by favorable policies such as visa exemptions and the increasing resumption of international flights. 

The National Immigration Administration (NIA) predicted that the average daily number of inbound and outbound travelers at main ports of China will exceed 2 million during the holiday period, said the report.

To ensure smooth passage for the upcoming holiday peak season, the NIA has arranged for wait times for Chinese citizens at border crossings to not exceed 30 minutes, according to the CCTV report.

Such move came amid the background as the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival coincide this year, creating an extended 8-day-long holiday that runs from October 1 to 8.

The peak travel days are expected to be October 1 and October 6, with major international airports experiencing steady growth in passenger traffic, said the report.

During the Golden Week holiday, Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Beijing Capital, Shenzhen Bao'an, and Chengdu Tianfu airports are projected to handle approximately 101,000, 51,000, 46,000, 19,000, and 18,000 travelers daily, respectively, said the report.

During the holiday, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will host several large-scale events, including fireworks displays, concerts, and lantern exhibitions, which are anticipated to attract a significant number of mainland residents traveling abroad and Hong Kong and Macao residents returning home for family visits. 

According to the CCTV report, the flow of travelers through land ports adjacent to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region is expected to increase significantly. 

Specifically, the daily passenger traffic at the Shenzhen Luohu, Futian, Shenzhen Bay, and Lantau ports is projected to reach 220,000, 200,000, 140,000, and 100,000, respectively. Meanwhile, the Zhuhai Gongbei, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Qingmao, and Hengqin ports are expected to see daily traffic of approximately 403,000, 120,000, 118,000, and 116,000 travelers. 

Global Times