China records record rail travel during Golden Week, boosting tourism and the economy.
The extended holiday weekend sees over 23 million passengers in a single day, boosting the transportation, tourism, and domestic consumption sectors.
247 - China has begun its holiday. Golden Week with impressive mobility and consumption figures. According to data released by China State Railway Group Co. and reported by Global Timesonly on the first day of the joint celebration of national day and Mid-Autumn FestivalOn October 1, 2025, the rail system transported 23 million passengers, setting a new all-time record for trips in a single day.
This year's holiday is one of the longest on record and, according to experts, is expected to last even longer. trigger a multiplier effect in various sectors of the economy.From tourism to retail, reinforcing the role of domestic consumption as an engine of growth.
Explosion in rail and air travel.
The Chinese rail system remains the primary mode of transportation during Golden Week, with an expected increase of more than 2.100 extra trains to meet the high demand. Until the morning of October 2nd, the booking platform 12306 I had already sold it. 120 million tickets for the period between September 29th and October 10th.
Besides trains, the air sector also registered strong activity. On the first day alone, there were... 2,48 million passengers on 19.682 flights, with a punctuality rate of 96%The expectation is that the total number of air trips during the holiday will reach... 19,2 million passengers, another record for the period, according to CMG.
The country's main airports are among the busiest. Beijing Capital International Airport must receive 1,67 million travelers, while the Sanya Phoenix International Airport, in Hainan province, expects about 504 thousand passengers.
Impact on tourism and consumption
The effect of mobility was immediately reflected in tourism. In XangaiFor example, the city received 3,58 million visitors on October 1st., a growth of 18,5% compared to 2024according to the Jiefang DailyThe booking platform ctrip.com recorded an increase of 32% in tourist requests in the city.
Em ChengduIn Sichuan province, the influx of tourists from outside the city has increased. 3,9%while the flow of international visitors increased 28,8%The A-rated tourist attractions received 1,437 million visitors, advancement of 18,3%Hotel and airline bookings also showed growth.
According to the economist Bian Yongzu, deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine Modernization of ManagementThe expansion of long-distance travel creates much more robust consumption scenarios:
"Tourist spending on hotels, restaurants, and shopping is significantly higher than that of local residents, making tourism a powerful driver of consumption growth."
Incentive policies and economic projections
The Chinese government is also strengthening the cultural and tourism sector with public policies. For this holiday, the following was launched: National Month of Cultural and Tourist Consumption, which provides for the distribution of 480 million yuan (about 66 million dollars) in subsidies, as reported by the agency Xinhua.
More than 29 cultural and tourist events Events are scheduled throughout the country, including theatrical performances, festivals, "red tourism" tours, activities related to national achievements, and family cultural experiences.
Bian Yongzu predicts that consumption during Golden Week 2025 could grow by approximately... 10% compared to 2024, reinforcing the role of tourism as new engine of economic growth from China at a time of slowdown in traditional sectors.
