About 840 million cross-regional passenger trips are estimated in China during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday which started on Saturday, a 6-percent increase compared with the same period of last year.
On the first day of the holiday alone, over 300 million cross-regional passenger trips were made, marking a 4.5-percent increase compared with the same period of last year. Notably, railway and expressway passenger volumes both hit record highs on the same day.
China’s railway system is expected to handle 20.8 million passenger trips on Monday, the last day of the holiday, and the transportation sector has planned to operate an additional 1,369 passenger trains.
Railway authorities in cities such as Zhengzhou, Changchun, Wuhan, and Xi’an have added extra passenger trains, using a coupling mode for EMUs and supplementing with ordinary trains to meet the surging demand.
Many tourists choose to travel by car, as all expressways are toll-free for vehicles with up to seven seats during the holiday. As a result, expressways across the country, especially those in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta region, have witnessed surging traffic on Monday, with the toll-free period expected to end at midnight (24:00).
The civil aviation sector is expected to welcome 1.94 million passengers on the same day, and waterways are estimated to handle over 1.11 million passenger trips.
“On the first day of the holiday, the expressway network handled 62.67 million vehicle trips, including 14.68 million new energy vehicles. The surge in self-driving travel and cultural tourism consumption drove double-digit growth in spending at scenic spots, hotels, and car rentals. In addition, returning to hometowns for tomb-sweeping activities and in-depth rural tours have also brought vitality to rural areas, promoting the spread of consumption from central cities to rural areas,” said Yang Yong, deputy head of the Transport Services Department of the Chinese Ministry of Transport.
Falling on Sunday this year, the Qingming Festival, or the Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tributes to ancestors. The three-day holiday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens to enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing in pleasant springtime temperatures.
840 mln cross-regional passenger trips estimated in China during Qingming Festival holiday
Commemorative events were held at martyrs’ cemeteries across China on Sunday, the Qingming Festival, to honor the fallen heroes.
The Qingming Festival, or the Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and worshiping ancestors.
In Shenyang City of northeast China’s Liaoning Province, a solemn ceremony was held at the Chinese People’s Volunteers martyrs’ cemetery on Sunday morning to pay tribute to the martyrs.
The event gathered more than 800 people, including the veterans of the People’s Volunteer Army and the families of the martyrs.
The ceremony included playing and singing of the national anthem, moments of silence, and flower basket presentation.
“I miss my comrades very much, especially during the special days like the Qingming Festival. I want to tell them that ‘The victory you won with your youth, blood, and lives has brought peace to our country. Now, our country is stronger, and our army is stronger. We will carry on your cause and realize your dreams. Rest in peace,'” said Wu Dawei, a 93-year-old veteran.
During the three-day holiday from Saturday to Monday, Shenyang residents flocked to the cemetery to clean the tombstones of the fallen heroes and present flowers.
In Jining City, east China’s Shandong Province, people from all walks of life, including veterans, Party members and cadres, and primary and secondary school students, gathered at the Weishan Lake Railway Guerrilla Memorial Park to commemorate the martyrs.
In Shanghai, the Longhua Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery held a ceremony to pay tribute to the unknown martyrs with flowers, a moment of silence, and three bows.
The event was attended by nearly 200 people from all walks of life, including outstanding members of the Communist Youth League of China and the Young Pioneers from local schools, descendants of the martyrs, soldiers and veterans.
People across China pay tribute to martyrs during Qingming Festival
