Travelers are expected to make a record 1.3 million train trips in the Yangtze River Delta region on Thursday as the Labor Day holiday approaches, surpassing the previous high of 1 million daily trips recorded after the latest Spring Festival, according to China Railway Shanghai Group.
Daily train trips on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday hit 864,000, 893,000 and 994,000 respectively, up more than 40 percent from the same period last month as the coronavirus pandemic wanes in China, says the group.
An extra 28 train services with routes to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hefei, Hangzhou, Xuzhou and Shanghai have been arranged on Thursday to meet the expected surge in rail passengers, the group said.
The travel peak is expected on Friday, the first day of the five-day Labor Day holiday.
The resumption of work, campus reopenings and the extension of the May Day holiday are all likely to boost travel, according to the group.
Rail authorities are predicting that travelers will make a total of 7 million train trips in the Yangtze River Delta region during the upcoming holiday. The Shanghai Railway Station and Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station are using infrared scanners to check the temperatures of passengers, and will expand temperature screening channels to speed up entry and exit.
Passengers are encouraged to seat separately and those with symptoms of illness, such as coughing, will have their temperatures checked again while onboard. Passengers are reminded to prepare their health QR codes in advance to comply with public health precautions.
Beijing authorities have downgraded the emergency response in the city from the top level to the second highest, announced the deputy secretary-general of the Beijing Municipal Government Chen Bei in a press conference on April 30.
What does this change means for the locals and visitors?
1. Returnees from other low-risk areas no longer need to undergo 14 days of quarantine or medical observation.
But visitors from other countries, Wuhan and the rest of Hubei Province, can't leave where they're currently quarantined.
2. Deliverymen, real estate agents, and visitors can enter residential compounds after registering and presenting a green health code.
3. Public amenities, such as scenic spots and parks will be opened to the public in order.
As International Workers' Day coming, travel restrictions are being eased. Visitors from Jing-Jin-Ji (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) region are recognized as having a "healthy" status on the Beijing Health Kit app.
source: cgtn,gov,weibo
