Published: 14:16, May 28, 2025 | Updated: 17:43, May 28, 2025
China expects 12% rise in daily cross-border trips during Dragon Boat Festival holiday
By Xinhua
Tourists arrive at West Kowloon high-speed rail station in Hong Kong on May 1, 2025. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING - China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) has projected a daily average of 2.15 million cross-border trips nationwide during the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival break, an increase of 12.2 percent compared with the holiday period last year.

The peak of cross-border travel is anticipated on June 1.

Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, it was celebrated on May 31, and the holiday runs from May 31 to June 2.

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Major aviation hubs are expected to see a steady increase in passenger traffic, with Shanghai Pudong International Airport projecting 100,000 daily border crossings.

During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, multiple dragon boat races and related events will be held in Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macao.

Coinciding with Children's Day on June 1 and the weekend, the holiday is expected to spur a surge in outbound travel from the Chinese mainland and home visits by Hong Kong and Macao residents.

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Land border checkpoints connecting Hong Kong and Macao are expected to see a notable increase in traffic. Luohu Port in Shenzhen is expected to handle a daily average of 230,000 crossings, while the Gongbei checkpoint in Zhuhai is projected to see a daily average of 367,000 crossings.

The NIA has urged border authorities to closely monitor cross-border traffic and port operations, providing regular updates to assist travelers. The agency also required adequate staff arrangements to ensure Chinese citizens spend no longer than 30 minutes queuing for entry and exit.