Adedokun Waliyu 
China State Railway Group reported that China’s railway network carried a record 24.8 million passengers on May 1, marking the highest single-day travel figure in its history.
The surge in travel comes during the International Workers’ Day holiday period, with an additional 19.7 million यात्रneys expected the following day. So far, official booking platforms have recorded sales of about 117 million train tickets for the holiday stretch, which runs until Tuesday.
The figures highlight strong domestic tourism activity and suggest a possible rise in consumer spending in the world’s second-largest economy, where demand has remained relatively weak since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite ongoing challenges such as a prolonged property market slump and subdued consumption, China has relied heavily on exports to sustain economic growth, alongside implementing policies aimed at boosting domestic spending.
This year’s May Day railway travel figure surpasses that of 2025 by 1.7 million यात्रneys, reflecting growing mobility and holiday travel demand.
To manage the increased passenger volume, the railway authority has deployed thousands of additional train services across its network.
