China rang in 2026 with the busiest single day of travel ever recorded on the mainland. Official Ministry of Transport data show that 207 million passenger journeys were completed on Thursday, 1 January 2026—the first of the three-day New-Year public holiday—representing a 20.3 percent jump on the same day last year. Road transport once again shouldered the bulk of the load (186.3 million trips), but rail travel was the standout growth story, surging 67.9 percent year-on-year to 18.6 million passengers. Civil aviation moved 1.95 million people, while waterways carried just under 700,000.
The figures confirm that domestic mobility has decisively returned to—indeed surpassed—pre-pandemic levels. Capacity investments made during 2024-25 in high-speed rail, motorway interchanges and regional airports are paying off, enabling carriers to absorb holiday-peak demand without the large-scale cancellations seen in 2023. For business-travel managers, the data signal both opportunity and risk: while connectivity within China is stronger than ever, competition for seats and berths during peak periods is fierce and may drive up prices for last-minute corporate travel.
For international professionals and holidaymakers eager to tap into this revitalised network, VisaHQ can simplify the gateway: its one-stop online service (https://www.visahq.com/china/) guides applicants through every step of securing or renewing a Chinese visa, highlights the latest entry policies, and even arranges document pickup and delivery—saving valuable time that can be redirected to itinerary planning instead of consulate queues.
![China’s Transport System Handles Record 207 Million Trips on First Day of 2026 New-Year Holiday]()
Industry analysts note that rail’s renaissance is structural rather than cyclical. Aggressive fare promotions on new high-speed lines have pulled price-sensitive travellers off the roads, easing pressure on long-haul buses but creating new pinch points at major rail hubs such as Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao. Corporates with nationwide footprints should revisit preferred-supplier agreements to ensure they are capturing volume rebates in the rail channel.
The tourism sector is an immediate beneficiary. Online agencies Meituan and Tongcheng each reported five-fold increases in New-Year hotel bookings, driven by families combining seasonal reunions with short leisure breaks. Provincial governments—from Hainan to Heilongjiang—are accelerating the launch of themed festivals and tax-free shopping zones to capture this spending power.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Transport expects the upcoming 40-day Spring Festival travel season (chunyun) to top last year’s record 5.1 billion trips. Multinational employers operating in China should plan for resource constraints, longer lead times on inter-city moves and heightened demand for temporary accommodation.
The figures confirm that domestic mobility has decisively returned to—indeed surpassed—pre-pandemic levels. Capacity investments made during 2024-25 in high-speed rail, motorway interchanges and regional airports are paying off, enabling carriers to absorb holiday-peak demand without the large-scale cancellations seen in 2023. For business-travel managers, the data signal both opportunity and risk: while connectivity within China is stronger than ever, competition for seats and berths during peak periods is fierce and may drive up prices for last-minute corporate travel.
For international professionals and holidaymakers eager to tap into this revitalised network, VisaHQ can simplify the gateway: its one-stop online service (https://www.visahq.com/china/) guides applicants through every step of securing or renewing a Chinese visa, highlights the latest entry policies, and even arranges document pickup and delivery—saving valuable time that can be redirected to itinerary planning instead of consulate queues.
Industry analysts note that rail’s renaissance is structural rather than cyclical. Aggressive fare promotions on new high-speed lines have pulled price-sensitive travellers off the roads, easing pressure on long-haul buses but creating new pinch points at major rail hubs such as Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao. Corporates with nationwide footprints should revisit preferred-supplier agreements to ensure they are capturing volume rebates in the rail channel.
The tourism sector is an immediate beneficiary. Online agencies Meituan and Tongcheng each reported five-fold increases in New-Year hotel bookings, driven by families combining seasonal reunions with short leisure breaks. Provincial governments—from Hainan to Heilongjiang—are accelerating the launch of themed festivals and tax-free shopping zones to capture this spending power.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Transport expects the upcoming 40-day Spring Festival travel season (chunyun) to top last year’s record 5.1 billion trips. Multinational employers operating in China should plan for resource constraints, longer lead times on inter-city moves and heightened demand for temporary accommodation.
