China's National Day Holiday to Feature Toll-Free Travel for Small Cars
Seven-seater and smaller passenger cars in China will be exempt from highway tolls from October 1-7, 2026, during the National Day holiday. Tolls will apply during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
China has announced that passenger vehicles with seven seats or fewer will enjoy toll-free passage on national highways during the upcoming National Day holiday period, scheduled from October 1 to October 7, 2026. The exemption applies to vehicles exiting the toll system by the end of October 7.
In contrast, the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, which falls from September 25 to 27, will not include toll exemptions for vehicles. The national policy for toll-free travel is specifically designated for four major public holidays: Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day, including any extended holiday periods officially declared.
Transportation authorities anticipate significant traffic volumes throughout the holiday periods. Peak travel times are expected on September 30 from 6 PM to 8 PM for pre-holiday departures, October 1 from 10 AM to 12 PM for cross-provincial travel, and October 7 from 4 PM to 6 PM for return journeys.
The Ministry of Transport clarified that the toll exemption is determined by the time a vehicle exits the highway. Vehicles entering the highway before the free period may still benefit from the exemption if they exit during the designated toll-free hours.