China Railway Guangzhou Group has achieved a monumental transportation milestone, moving over 50 million passengers since the commencement of the annual Spring Festival travel period. This massive operation underscores the critical role of rail infrastructure in facilitating China’s largest annual human migration event.
The Guangzhou-based railway operator, serving as a primary transport hub in Southern China, reported handling approximately 2.512 million outbound passengers and receiving 2.619 million inbound travelers on Tuesday alone—the 23rd day of the travel rush that began on February 2.
According to the company’s passenger transport department, this sustained high-volume traffic results from a convergence of factors including post-holiday business reopenings, university restarts, and returning family visitors. This overlapping demand has created unprecedented pressure on transportation systems throughout the region.
To accommodate the massive passenger flow, the railway group has implemented extensive capacity expansion measures. On Tuesday, the operation included 3,946 scheduled trains, with 1,419 high-speed units running in multiple formations and an additional 745 supplemental services—469 of which were nighttime high-speed trains.
Infrastructure enhancements have played a crucial role in managing the passenger surge. Guangzhou Baiyun Station, one of Guangdong’s major rail hubs, has significantly improved transfer efficiency through newly added entrances and upgraded passenger facilities. These improvements have enabled rapid station transfers within just five minutes.
Additionally, the station has implemented security-free通道 for metro and Guangzhou-Qingyuan intercity train connections, reducing rail-to-subway transfer times to approximately 15 minutes. These operational optimizations represent significant advancements in China’s railway transportation capabilities during peak travel periods.