China's railway passenger trips top 2.3b in first half

BEIJING -- A record number of passenger trips were made across China in the first half of 2026, with more than 2.3 billion recorded, up 5 percent from the previous year, according to data released by the national railway operator Monday.

An average of 11,468 passenger trains were operated daily during the six-month period, representing a 5.8 percent year-on-year rise, figures from the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) showed.

Adapting to the passenger flow growth brought by the country's transit visa-free policy, China's railway network has facilitated increased travel for foreign passengers, recording over 12.31 million foreign passenger trips in the first half, a surge of 33.6 percent year on year.

During the period, cross-border rail travel has continued to grow, with the China-Laos Railway carrying 188,000 trips, up 25.9 percent from a year earlier, while the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed railway handled 16.96 million cross-border trips, an increase of 13.8 percent year on year, China Railway said.

Meanwhile, China Railway has been coordinating with local cultural and tourism departments to promote tourism, operating 1,797 tourist trains nationwide during the first six months. It has also expanded its "quiet carriage" and pet-friendly travel services.