China Expects 2.36 Billion Trips During 2025 Golden Week With Record Travel Surge

China is anticipating a massive surge in travel during the 2025 National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday period, which spans eight to twelve days from late September to October 10. Authorities forecast approximately 2.36 billion passenger trips, with daily travel averaging around 295 million, marking a 3.2% increase from the previous year. Self-driving remains the dominant travel mode, expected to account for nearly 80% of trips, with over 14 million journeys by new energy vehicles, prompting enhanced charging services nationwide. The holiday travel boom is bolstered by advances in infrastructure, such as the opening of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, which significantly reduces travel times and stimulates tourism. Internationally, outbound travel is thriving with a 130% rise in bookings, particularly to Southeast Asia, Belt and Road Initiative countries, and Africa, facilitated by new visa-free regimes and group visa policies. Meanwhile, China is also experiencing a rise in inbound tourism during the holiday, with increased visitors from countries including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Spain, Hungary, and Saudi Arabia, contributing to a robust recovery and growth in the tourism sector and consumer economy.