China Rail Hits Record 24.8 Million Passengers in One Day

China’s railway network has recorded its busiest single day ever, transporting a staggering 24.8 million passengers during the May Day holiday rush, underscoring a powerful rebound in domestic travel.

According to official data from the China State Railway Group, the record was set on May 1, 2026, as millions of citizens travelled across the country for tourism, family visits, and leisure activities.

The surge exceeded earlier projections of about 24.5 million passengers for the peak travel day, confirming the holiday as one of the busiest periods in China’s transport calendar.

To cope with the massive demand, railway authorities deployed additional services across key routes. Major corridors such as Zhengzhou and Chengdu saw hundreds of extra trains added to ease congestion and improve passenger flow.

The May Day holiday; one of China’s longest annual breaks, has become a major driver of domestic tourism. This year, strong rail traffic has been partly fuelled by a shift toward local travel, as rising fuel costs and flight cancellations made international trips less attractive.

Overall, China’s railway system is expected to handle around 158 million passenger trips during the extended holiday travel period, reflecting sustained demand for affordable and accessible transportation.

Analysts say the surge highlights the growing importance of domestic tourism in supporting China’s economy, particularly at a time when consumer spending and the property sector remain under pressure.

With millions still on the move in the days following the peak, authorities expect travel volumes to remain high throughout the holiday period, reinforcing rail as the backbone of China’s mass transit system.