China expects travel rush during upcoming holiday period

BEIJING — China's transportation network is preparing for an expected travel rush during the upcoming eight-day combined National Day and Mid Autumn Festival holiday period.

From Thursday, railways nationwide will begin to receive around 130 million passengers during an 11-day period as Chinese visit tourist destinations or return to their hometown, according to the China Railway Corporation (CR).

The number of railway passengers is expected to increase by 10 percent year-on-year, peaking on Sunday with 16 million tickets having already been sold, according to data released by CR.

The Mid Autumn Festival falls on Oct 4 this year, coinciding with the week-long National Day holiday, which adds an extra day to make eight days off work, starting Sunday.

From Oct 1 to 8, around 710 million tourist trips will be made across China, according to predictions by China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

Tourist attractions should manage traffic and entrance flows to receive visitors within their capacity, the CNTA said in a circular Thursday.

The CNTA also demanded local travel agencies pay close attention to safety conditions at tourist attractions and be prepared for emergencies.

The National Day holiday, which runs from Oct 1 to 7, is one of China's two "Golden Weeks," during which passenger flow, tourism revenue and retail sales usually surge.