Economy

Chinese railways expect passenger rush over holiday

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-30 14:00

BEIJING -- China's Ministry of Railways said Sunday that the country's railways are expected to transport 23.1 million passengers during the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 11.4 percent year-on-year.

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The daily average passenger flow is estimated to reach 5.78 million, according to the ministry.

To ease the transportation pressure, railway authorities will add a total of 118 pairs of trains nationawide between June 3 and 6.

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, is traditionally celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar. It commemorates famous ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan. Chinese people eat and prepare Zong Zi, drink realgar wine, and race dragon boat for that day.

The festival falls on June 6 this year and the holiday runs from June 4 to 6.