On March 27, it was learned from China Railway Shanghai Group Co., Ltd. that the transportation plan for the spring break and Qingming Festival holiday in the Yangtze River Delta region has been released. It is estimated that 28 million passenger trips will be handled. The peak travel day is expected to be April 4 (Cold Food Festival), with passenger volume potentially reaching 4.3 million, setting a new single-day record for the railway group.

The Qingming Festival in 2026 falls on April 5. The transportation period for the spring break and Qingming holiday will last 8 days, from March 31 to April 7. On top of the 40 additional pairs of passenger trains already arranged for the spring travel season, the railway group has scheduled an additional 105 pairs of trains for this period. This is an increase of 55 pairs compared to the 2025 Qingming holiday transport plan, bringing the total number of passenger train pairs in operation to 1,576.5.

Around the Qingming Festival, it is customary in many areas of the Yangtze River Delta to go for outings and visit ancestral graves. This year, the spring break for primary and secondary schools in most parts of Anhui and Jiangsu provinces, as well as some areas of Zhejiang province, largely coincides with this Qingming holiday, creating a continuous break of up to 6 days in some cases. This is further stimulating public travel demand.

Passenger flow in the Yangtze River Delta railway network is primarily composed of tourism, family visits, and business travel. Long-distance travel is mainly from the Yangtze River Delta to destinations such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Nanchang, Changsha, Hankou, and Zhengzhou. Popular cities within the region include Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Hefei, Yangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Jinhua, Yiwu, Huangshan, Wuhu, Fuyang, and Xuzhou. Major high-speed rail lines in high demand include Beijing-Shanghai, Shanghai-Kunming, Shanghai-Nanjing, Nanjing-Hangzhou, Hefei-Fuzhou, Ningbo-Wenzhou, Nanjing-Anqing, Hangzhou-Huangshan, and Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou.

Qingming Festival

The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival with a history of over 2,500 years, originating from the Cold Food Festival. It is observed in early April as a day for families to honor their ancestors by cleaning their gravesites and making offerings. The festival also coincides with the arrival of spring, encouraging people to enjoy outdoor activities and appreciate nature.

Cold Food Festival

The Cold Food Festival, also known as the Hanshi Festival, is a traditional Chinese observance that historically involved abstaining from lighting fires and eating only cold food for one to three days. It originated during the Spring and Autumn period (approx. 771–476 BCE) from the legend of Jie Zitui, a loyal follower of Duke Wen of Jin, whose death led to the duke mandating this period of cold meals in his memory. Over time, it became associated with the Qingming Festival for tomb-sweeping and spring outings.

Yangtze River Delta

The Yangtze River Delta is a highly developed economic and cultural hub in eastern China, centered around Shanghai and encompassing parts of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces. Historically, its intricate network of rivers and canals facilitated trade and agriculture for centuries, making it a prosperous region known as the “Land of Fish and Rice.” Today, it is one of the world’s most important economic engines and a key area in China’s modern development.

Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail

The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway is a 1,318-kilometer rail line in China, opened in 2011, that connects the country’s two major economic and political hubs. It was a landmark engineering project, significantly reducing travel time between the cities to about 4-5 hours and becoming one of the world’s busiest high-speed rail corridors. Its construction and operation symbolize China’s rapid advancement in modern transportation infrastructure and economic integration.

Shanghai-Kunming high-speed rail

The Shanghai-Kunming high-speed railway is a major east-west corridor in China, completed in 2016 after nearly a decade of construction through challenging mountainous terrain. It dramatically reduced travel time between the two cities from over 34 hours to under 12 hours, serving as a vital economic and cultural link across central and southern China.

Shanghai-Nanjing high-speed rail

The Shanghai-Nanjing high-speed rail is a major railway line in eastern China, connecting the megacity of Shanghai with the historic capital Nanjing in Jiangsu province. It opened in 2010 as part of China’s expansive high-speed rail network, significantly cutting travel time between the two cities to about one hour. The line serves as a vital economic and transportation corridor in one of the country’s most populous and developed regions.

Nanjing-Hangzhou high-speed rail

The Nanjing-Hangzhou high-speed railway is a major rail link in eastern China, connecting the capitals of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Opened in 2013, it significantly reduced travel time between the two cities to about one hour, boosting regional economic integration. It forms a critical segment of China’s expansive high-speed rail network, designed to facilitate rapid transit along the Yangtze River Delta economic zone.

Hangzhou-Huangshan high-speed rail

The Hangzhou-Huangshan high-speed rail is a modern railway line in eastern China, connecting the scenic city of Hangzhou with the famed Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) region. It opened in December 2018, significantly cutting travel time through mountainous terrain to promote tourism and regional connectivity. The line is an engineering achievement, featuring numerous bridges and tunnels that navigate the area’s complex landscape.