China's railway passenger trips surpass 2.3 billion in first half of 2026

China’s railway passenger trips reached a record high in the first half of 2026, exceeding 2.3 billion, a 5 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway). An average of 11,468 passenger trains were operated daily during the six-month period, reflecting a 5.8 percent year-on-year rise. To accommodate the growing passenger flow driven by China’s transit visa-free policy, the railway network facilitated more trips by foreign passengers, recording over 12.31 million foreign passenger trips in the first half, a 33.6 percent surge year-on-year. Cross-border rail travel continued to grow during the period, with the China-Laos Railway recording 188,000 trips, up 25.9 percent from a year earlier. Meanwhile, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed railway served 16.96 million cross-border trips, marking a 13.8 percent year-on-year increase, China Railway stated. The operator also coordinated with local culture and tourism departments to promote tourism, operating 1,797 tourist trains nationwide in the first six months of the year. Additionally, the national railway operator expanded its ‘quiet carriage’ services and pet-friendly travel options.