The 2026 summer travel season, which runs from July 1 to August 31, is now nearing its conclusion, with popular travel provinces continuing to see high passenger volumes as the period comes to a close.

Railway Travel Surges With Enhanced Convenience Measures

The China Railway Shenyang Bureau has been averaging 700,000 passenger trips per day this summer, with total ridership projected to reach 43.36 million and a single-day peak of 867,000 passengers. Demand from family visits, summer getaways, and other travel needs has converged, concentrating passenger flow in cities such as Shenyang, Dalian, Changbaishan, and Dandong. The Shenyang-Baishan High-Speed Railway, operating its first summer season since opening, has carried 1.752 million passengers, reflecting a surge in tourism demand. To manage the heavy passenger influx, Shenyang Station completed a passenger service upgrade before the summer season. Security checkpoints were relocated from the centralized second-floor area to the first floor and the metro transfer hall, easing crowding, while the pre-security ID verification process was eliminated in favor of a streamlined "one-stop" verification system. Travelers can now board by scanning their ID card just once, significantly improving entry efficiency. Additionally, the waiting areas now feature a glasses-free 3D screen and 18 triangular informational displays, helping passengers quickly locate their boarding gates from any angle.

Airports Maintain High Traffic With Expanded and New Popular Routes

Airports across Liaoning are also experiencing strong summer travel volumes. Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, for instance, exceeded 70,000 daily passengers on 46 days during the period, and on August 20, daily traffic hit 80,400 passengers—a record high for the airport's average daily passenger volume. Wu Menglu, deputy section chief of the airport's marketing and statistics analysis office, noted that from July 1 onward, the airport has handled 28,000 flight takeoffs and landings and 4.28 million passengers, well above last year's levels. To meet travel demand, airlines have expanded the route network serving Dalian, adding flights to and from cities like Chengdu, Guiyang, Hangzhou, Hefei, Xiamen, and Kunming. Dalian has also launched its first-ever route to Dali in Yunnan, with four weekly flights.

Guangzhou's New Terminal Boosts Capacity as Airport Data Hits New Highs

This summer marks the first travel season for Guangzhou Baiyun Airport's newly operational T3 terminal and fifth runway, which have brought significant changes. With tourism, family trips, and study tours driving demand, Baiyun Airport has maintained high traffic levels. The T3 terminal has contributed to rising passenger numbers, and on August 15, the airport handled 1,909 flights and 309,000 passengers in a single day—both figures breaking historical records. Amid the busy operations, multiple extreme weather events, including Typhoons Maysak and Bavi, have struck. The airport has activated a coordinated operations mechanism, scientifically adjusting flight schedules and intensifying flood prevention inspections in terminals and aprons, keeping flight dispatch punctuality high throughout the summer. Summer travel has also fueled demand for cool-weather routes. Airlines have introduced new routes from the Guangzhou hub to Xining, Hailar, and Altay, while expanding international services to London, Moscow, Nairobi, and other destinations to ensure smooth travel. Meanwhile, unaccompanied child travel has reached unprecedented levels. Gong Xiaojia, a ground service staffer with China Southern Airlines, reported that unaccompanied minor passengers hit a new peak this summer, with 661 such children departing on domestic flights in a single day. The airline has introduced special vests to increase visibility for these young travelers, pre-checked their travel data, and dynamically adjusted check-in counters for unaccompanied special-service passengers.

Study Tours Gain Momentum With Railway Student Traffic Up 44.6%

Railway student traffic has risen sharply during the summer, up 44.6% year-on-year. Since the season began, China Railway Guangzhou Bureau has organized 155 student group trips, totaling 29,000 passengers, with destinations mainly covering Beijing, Changsha, Guiyang, Fuzhou, and Lanzhou. To cater to personalized travel needs, the railway launched a "Overseas Chinese Capital Seafood Flavor" travel pass starting August 8. This pass covers 14 stations including Guangzhou Station, Shenzhen North, Foshan, Jiangmen, and Maoming, providing a single-ticket connection along the western Guangdong coastal cultural tourism corridor and boosting summer railway passenger numbers.

New Hubs Face Their First Major Test as New High-Speed Lines See Rising Ridership

To handle the heavy summer passenger flow, railway and civil aviation sectors in Shaanxi have increased capacity and refined services. As of August 27, China Railway Xi'an Bureau has transported 28.18 million passengers during this summer period. Xi'an East Station, a newly operational key passenger hub, is facing its first major influx since opening. By August 27, the station has handled 1.329 million passengers and operates 84.5 passenger train pairs daily, with routes connecting 45 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The newly opened Xi'an-Yan'an and Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railways are also undergoing their first summer season tests. These two new lines have opened fast corridors from the Guanzhong region to northern Shaanxi and from the northwest to central China, respectively, boosting cultural tourism along their routes. Many travelers are opting for high-speed rail to visit destinations like Yan'an. As of August 28, Yan'an Station has carried 965,000 passengers during the summer. The launch of an air-rail intermodal passenger service center at Xi'an North Station has also made connecting journeys more convenient. Passengers can now complete flight information inquiries, domestic check-in, and baggage check-in all in one stop at the high-speed rail station, proceeding directly to security screening and boarding upon arrival at the airport, enabling seamless air-rail transfers.

Civil Aviation Sees Steady Growth With Improved Support Services

On the civil aviation front, Xi'an Xianyang International Airport has handled 59,000 flights and transported 8.8 million passengers as of August 27. With rising tourism and growing demand from international travelers, the airport has continuously upgraded its services, launching a comprehensive service platform for inbound passengers entering Shaanxi. This platform provides international travelers with services such as travel consultations, foreign currency exchange, and mobile payment guidance.