China witnessed an extraordinary surge in domestic travel during the three-day New Year holiday period from January 1-3, 2026, with official data revealing approximately 595 million cross-regional journeys nationwide. This remarkable figure represents a substantial 19.62 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025 and a 5.74 percent rise over the 2024 New Year holiday travel volume.
The transportation sector experienced particularly robust growth across all modes of travel. Railway networks emerged as the standout performer, handling 48.09 million passenger trips throughout the holiday period. With daily rail passenger volume averaging 16.03 million, this segment demonstrated an impressive 52.66 percent year-on-year growth compared to 2025, indicating a pronounced resurgence in long-distance travel demand among Chinese citizens.
Road transport maintained its position as the dominant travel mode, accounting for the overwhelming majority of journeys at 539 million trips. This translated to approximately 1.8 million daily road trips, marking a 15.7 percent increase from the previous year. Within this category, private passenger vehicles facilitated 442 million trips, while commercial road passenger services handled 98 million journeys.
Complementing the land transportation figures, waterway transport recorded 2.25 million passenger trips, and civil aviation carriers transported 5.88 million passengers during the three-day holiday period. These statistics collectively paint a picture of a nation increasingly mobile and confident in travel following periods of restriction, with the diversified transportation infrastructure effectively accommodating the pent-up demand for holiday movement and family reunions.