Extra capacity aids return travel peak

China's transport system encountered one of its heaviest challenges of the year as the May Day holiday drew to a close on Tuesday, with railways, highways, airports and urban transit networks mobilizing extra capacity to help millions of travelers return home safely and smoothly.

The five-day break generated strong demand for family visits, tourism, concerts and short-distance leisure trips, creating heavy passenger flows across major intercity corridors. Transport authorities have rolled out coordinated measures, from additional trains and extended subway services to highway traffic management and last-mile urban transport links, to support the holiday economy and keep the return rush orderly.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Transport projected more than 1.52 billion cross-regional trips would be recorded between Friday and Tuesday, with average daily trips reaching 305 million, up 4 percent from the same period last year.