China expects travel rush during upcoming holiday

China's transportation network is preparing for an expected travel rush during the upcoming eight-day combined National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday period.

Long lines of vehicles slow traffic at the toll gate of the Beijing-Tianjin-Macao Expressway. [Photo/China Daily] 

From Thursday, railways nationwide will begin to receive around130 million passengers during an11-day period as Chinese visit tourist destinations or return to their hometown, according to the China Railway Corporation (CR).

The number of railway passengers is expected to peak on Sunday with16 million tickets having already been sold, according to data released by CR.

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Oct.4 this year, coinciding with the week-long National Day holiday, which adds an extra day to make eight days off work, starting Sunday.

From Oct.1 to8, around710 million tourist trips will be made across China, according to predictions by China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

Tourist attractions should manage traffic and entrance flows to receive visitors within their capacity, the CNTA said in a circular Thursday.

The CNTA also demanded local travel agencies pay close attention to safety conditions at tourist attractions and are prepared for emergencies.

The National Day holiday, which runs from Oct.1 to7, is one of China's two"Golden Weeks," during which passenger flow, tourism revenue and retail sales usually surge.