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Jun 18, 2026 Major3
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China's Railways Handle 83 Million Trips During Dragon Boat Festival Travel Rush
China's railway network is forecast to handle approximately 83 million passenger trips during a five-day Dragon Boat Festival travel rush from June 18-22, 2026, with 13,000 passenger trains deployed daily and over 51.59 million tickets sold. Saturday is expected to be the peak day with roughly 19 million trips.
Quick Facts
Who
China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.
What
Railway network forecast to handle 83 million passenger trips
When
June 18-22, 2026 (five-day travel rush period)
Where
China's railway network
- Railway network forecast to handle 83 million passenger trips
- Deployment of 1,028 additional trains
- Operation of overnight high-speed trains on major routes
- Introduction of cultural activities at railway stations
- Ticket sales via 12306 platform
China's railway network is forecast to handle approximately 83 million passenger trips during a five-day travel surge around the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. The extended holiday period runs from Thursday, June 18 to Monday, June 22, 2026, with Saturday, June 20 expected to be the peak travel day at roughly 19 million trips. The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, falls on Saturday this year.
To accommodate the surge in passenger demand, railway authorities have deployed around 13,000 passenger trains running daily on average, including 1,028 additional trains beyond the standard schedule. Overnight high-speed trains will operate on major high-speed rail routes including the Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Guangzhou, and Beijing-Harbin lines. As of Friday morning, over 51.59 million train tickets had been sold through China's official railway ticketing platform 12306.
Top travel destinations during the holiday period include major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. Railway authorities have also introduced cultural activities throughout the network to enhance the passenger experience and foster festive vibes during the holiday period. The coordinated response reflects the scale of domestic travel demand during China's major traditional holidays.
Why This Matters
This forecast reflects the massive scale of domestic travel during China's major traditional holidays and demonstrates the railway system's capacity to manage peak-period demand. For travelers planning trips during the Dragon Boat Festival, understanding peak travel times (particularly Saturday) and ticket availability through 12306 can help optimize booking and journey planning. The coordinated deployment of additional trains and cultural activities also signals opportunities for experiencing enhanced passenger services during this period.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireChina State Railway Group announces forecast of 83 million trips during Dragon Boat Festival travel period
Jun 18, 2026
WireFive-day travel rush period begins (Thursday, June 18)
Jun 18, 2026
WireChina State Railway Group announces forecast of 83 million trips during five-day Dragon Boat Festival travel rush
Jun 18, 2026
WireOver 40 million train tickets sold as of 8 a.m. Thursday
Jun 19, 2026
WireFirst day of Dragon Boat Festival holiday begins (Friday, June 19)
Jun 19, 2026
WireRailway network handles 19.73 million passenger trips on Friday
Jun 19, 2026
Wire51.59 million train tickets sold as of 8 a.m. Friday
Jun 20, 2026
WireDragon Boat Festival (Saturday) - peak travel day with approximately 19 million trips expected
Jun 21, 2026
WireDragon Boat Festival falls; projected peak day with approximately 19 million train trips
Jun 22, 2026
WireFive-day travel rush period ends (Monday, June 22)
Jun 23, 2026
WireTravel rush period ends (Monday)