BUSINESS

Road Trips to Dominate as China Gears Up for National Holiday

Published: Sep. 29, 2025 2:40 p.m. GMT+8

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The upcoming eight-day break will see cars carry about 80% of travelers in China. Photo: VCG

Travelers are expected to take a record 340 million trips across China on Oct. 1, kicking off an eight-day holiday expected to jolt the nation’s flagging consumer spending.

The forecast was part of a broader outlook from the Ministry of Transport, which said the combined National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival break would generate 2.36 billion trips in total. Daily trips are projected to grow 3.2% year-on-year, though moderating from the 3.9% expansion seen last year, Vice Minister Li Yang said at a press briefing Sunday.

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China expects 340 million trips on Oct. 1, with the holiday forecast to generate 2.36 billion trips overall, up 3.2% year-on-year.
Road trips will comprise about 80% of total travel, while rail travel is expected to drop 2.7% and air travel to rise 3.6% compared to last year.
Domestic airfares are up 4.8% to 882 yuan; international flights are at 94.1% of 2019 levels, mainly within East and Southeast Asia.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Flight Master: Flight Master (飞常准) is an aviation data provider. They reported that the average pre-sold, tax-inclusive ticket price for the upcoming holiday rose 4.8% from last year, reaching 882 yuan ($124). Flight Master also noted that airlines are expected to operate at 94.1% of their 2019 levels for international travel during the holiday.

AI generated, for reference only