China’s railway system has set a new milestone, with an astounding 1.86 billion passenger journeys recorded during the initial five months of 2025. According to the China State Railway Group, this figure represents a significant year-on-year growth of 7.3%, establishing a historic peak for this timeframe.
On average, 11,243 trains operated daily in the same period, reflecting a 7.5% increase compared to the previous year. The busiest day for rail travel this year occurred on May 1, coinciding with the start of a five-day May Day holiday. On that day alone, 13,752 trains facilitated over 23 million passenger journeys, both of which are all-time high figures.
The rise in passenger numbers is bolstered by China’s expanded visa-free policies for international travelers, leading to a notable influx of foreign passengers. In the first five months of 2025, foreign nationals made 7.67 million train journeys in China, marking a 29% surge from the previous year.
Additively, cross-border railway transport is seeing robust growth, evident from the China-Laos Railway, which recorded 124,000 passenger trips — a 24.2% increase year on year.
Source: news.cgtn.com
