China Railway expects 22.3 million passengers on Mid-Autumn Festival

China Railway anticipates transporting approximately 22.3 million passengers on September 25, the first day of the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. To accommodate the surge in travel, an additional 1,218 train services are planned.

Travel for the holiday period, which runs from September 23 to October 8, is expected to be substantial, with 132 million train tickets already sold as of September 25. Popular departure cities include Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, while Beijing, Guangzhou, and Chengdu are among the top destinations. The railway authority is monitoring passenger flow and aiming to ensure sufficient capacity, particularly during peak times and in high-demand corridors.

Passengers unable to secure tickets are advised to utilize the waitlist function on the official 12306 booking platform. This feature allows users to select up to 60 date and train number combinations, increasing the likelihood of obtaining a ticket. Additional capacity will be deployed based on real-time demand, with priority given to those on the waitlist. Additional train services will be added based on waitlist demand, and these tickets will be allocated first to passengers who have submitted waitlist orders.

The Ministry of Railways reiterates that 12306.fi is the sole official online platform for train ticket sales and that no partnerships exist with third-party vendors. Travelers are urged to purchase tickets exclusively through official channels to ensure fair and secure transactions.