China recorded approximately 2.14 billion cross-regional passenger trips during its National Day holiday from October 1 to October 7, 2026, highlighting the enormous scale of domestic travel during the country’s major holiday period.

According to data from China’s Ministry of Transport, the average number of daily passenger trips reached approximately 306 million.

Rail travel increased significantly, while road transportation remained the dominant form of travel across the country. Henan Government

Rail Travel Sees Strong Growth

China’s railway network handled approximately 151.87 million passenger trips during the seven-day holiday.

That represented an average of around 21.7 million railway journeys per day.

The average number of daily rail journeys increased by 12.7 percent compared with the corresponding period used for comparison in the transport ministry’s figures. Henan Government

The strong railway demand demonstrates the importance of high-speed rail and conventional train services in China’s domestic tourism system.

For millions of travelers, rail transportation offers an efficient way to move between major cities and tourist destinations.

Roads Remain the Largest Travel Channel

Although railway travel attracted significant attention, road transportation accounted for the overwhelming majority of passenger journeys.

China recorded approximately 1.96 billion road trips during the holiday period.

That represented an average of around 280.26 million road passenger trips each day. Henan Government

The figures demonstrate the continuing importance of private vehicles, buses and other road-based transportation during major Chinese holidays.

Road travel also gives families greater flexibility when visiting destinations that may not have direct railway connections.

Aviation Handles Millions of Passengers

Civil aviation recorded approximately 16.92 million passenger trips during the holiday.

The daily average was around 2.42 million passenger trips, broadly unchanged from the previous year. Henan Government

Air travel remains particularly important for longer domestic journeys and international tourism.

Major airports in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen often experience significant increases in passenger traffic during major holiday periods.

Water Transportation Also Benefits

Waterways handled approximately 10.93 million passengers during the National Day holiday.

The daily average increased 7.1 percent year over year. Henan Government

Although water transportation represents a much smaller share of total passenger movement than roads or railways, it remains important for certain regions and tourist destinations.

Cruises, ferries and local water transportation can become particularly popular in coastal and river-based tourism areas.

International Travel Is Also Growing

Domestic tourism was not the only travel segment to experience strong activity.

China recorded approximately 15.46 million inbound and outbound border trips during the week-long National Day holiday.

The daily average reached approximately 2.21 million trips, representing a 6.7 percent increase year over year. State Council of China

Chinese mainland residents made more than 4.44 million outbound trips during the holiday, an increase of 9.3 percent from the previous year.

The figures show that international travel demand is also recovering strongly.

Long-Haul Destinations Gain Attention

Travel platforms reported increased interest in longer-distance destinations.

New Zealand and Iceland were among the long-haul destinations that gained popularity during the holiday, according to data cited by China’s government information service. State Council of China

This indicates that some Chinese travelers are increasingly willing to travel farther for longer vacations.

The trend is particularly important for tourism economies outside Asia that are seeking to attract Chinese visitors.

Australia Benefits From Chinese Travel Demand

Australia was among the destinations that attracted strong interest from Chinese travelers during the holiday period.

ABC News reported that Australia was one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists during the 2026 Golden Week period.

Flight bookings from China to Australia for October 2026 were reportedly 19 percent higher than in October 2025, according to IATA data cited by ABC. ABC News

The growth provides an important opportunity for Australia’s tourism sector.

Destinations including Sydney, Queensland and other major tourist regions are seeking to benefit from the return of international visitors.

Travelers Prefer More Flexible Experiences

The latest tourism data also points to changes in travel behavior.

Some Chinese travelers are moving away from traditional large group tours and choosing smaller groups or independent road trips.

Travel agents interviewed by ABC described a growing preference for what they called “quality trips,” with travelers seeking more personalized experiences. ABC News

This shift could influence the types of tourism products that international destinations develop.

Instead of focusing only on large tour groups, businesses may increasingly offer customized itineraries, small-group experiences and flexible travel packages.

Multi-Destination Trips Are Growing

Data from Destination NSW also shows that longer international travel is becoming more popular.

Hotel bookings of seven nights or more increased 123 percent year over year among Chinese travelers during the recent holiday period.

Multi-destination itinerary bookings rose 84 percent year over year, with travelers combining several destinations into one international trip. Destination NSW

This trend could have significant implications for tourism businesses.

Travelers who stay longer and visit multiple destinations potentially generate greater spending across accommodation, transportation, restaurants and attractions.

A Strong Signal for the Global Travel Industry

China’s National Day holiday remains one of the world’s largest travel periods.

The 2026 figures demonstrate that both domestic and international travel demand remain strong.

For the global tourism industry, the continued growth of Chinese outbound travel represents an important source of visitors.

For China itself, the huge volume of domestic passenger journeys demonstrates the scale of its internal tourism market.

The combination of strong domestic travel, increasing international trips and changing consumer preferences suggests that China’s travel industry is entering another important period of development.