China Railway Passenger Trips Hit 2.8 Billion in First Seven Months

China's national railway network transported 2.8 billion passengers between January and July, a 4.1 percent year-on-year increase that marks a record high for the period, according to official data released by China State Railway Group. The growth was supported by new high-speed rail lines and expanded daily services, which averaged 11,462 passenger trains per day. International and cross-border connectivity saw substantial gains, with foreign traveler trips jumping 32.5 percent to 14.85 million, boosted by transit visa exemptions, alongside notable growth on routes linking Hong Kong and Laos.

The steady expansion in railway passenger volumes underscores sustained mobility across business, tourism, and family travel within China. Simultaneously, double-digit increases in cross-border routes and foreign passenger trips demonstrate how infrastructure integration and visa-free entry policies are successfully stimulating inbound travel and regional economic connectivity.

China's national railway network carried 2.8 billion passenger trips in the first seven months of the year, representing a 4.1 percent increase compared to the same period last year and reaching a record high for the timeframe, according to data from China State Railway Group reported by Xinhua. To accommodate rising demand, railway authorities deployed new infrastructure assets, including recently opened sections such as the Xi'an East to Shiyan East section of the Wuhan-Xi'an high-speed railway and the Lanxi East to Jiande section of the Jinhua-Jiande high-speed line. Nationwide, operators scheduled an average of 11,462 passenger trains per day from January to July, up 571 trains or 5.2 percent year-on-year. Cross-border passenger transport recorded significant growth across key links. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link handled approximately 20.05 million cross-border passenger trips, marking an 11.5 percent year-on-year rise. Meanwhile, cross-border traffic along the China-Laos Railway reached 214,000 passenger trips, an increase of 38.2 percent compared to the prior year. Foreign travel across the national network expanded rapidly, aided by policy adjustments to ease international entries. According to official figures, railways carried 14.85 million foreign passenger trips during the seven-month period, up 32.5 percent year-on-year. Railway operators attributed the jump partly to national transit visa-free policies and targeted service improvements for overseas visitors. Domestic operators also accelerated efforts to integrate rail transport with regional tourism. Working alongside municipal cultural and tourism authorities, railway departments organized 2,159 tourist trains between January and July, including 1,184 dedicated chartered tourist trains and 975 specialized tourist route services designed to connect passengers directly with scenic destinations and regional hospitality markets.