China's railways handled 302 million passenger trips during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day travel rush, up 24.6 percent year-on-year, with daily passenger numbers reaching a record high.
The 16-day travel period ran from Sept 23 to Oct 8, according to China State Railway Group, the national railway operator. Passenger trips peaked at 25.204 million on Oct 1, when a record 14,885 passenger trains were operated.
Demand was strong for tourism, family visits and leisure travel, as well as the transport of holiday goods, according to the company's transport department, noting that the two festivals fell close together this year.
Railways operated an average of 13,300 passenger trains a day during the travel period, an increase of 3.3 percent year-on-year. The operator added services on busy routes and at peak times, drawing on newly opened lines and stations, including the Xiong'an-Shangqiu section of the Beijing-Hong Kong high-speed railway.
It also maintained conventional train services to meet different travel needs.
Ticket sales set another record, with 29.737 million tickets sold through the 12306 railway booking system on Sept 23, the highest single-day total.
Tourist trains offered trips focused on sightseeing, wellness and revolutionary history, connecting destinations known for their scenery, cultural heritage and local food.
Cross-border services also carried holiday travelers. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed railway handled 1.66 million cross-border passenger trips, while the China-Laos Railway carried 14,000.
The operator strengthened assistance for passengers needing extra support and held Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day cultural activities at stations and aboard trains.
Alongside the passenger rush, State-operated railways transported 192 million metric tons of freight, up 5 percent year-on-year, including coal for power generation, grain, fertilizer and holiday supplies.
