A high-speed bullet train drives across rapeseed flower fields. [Photo/WeChat account: hzfbwx]

The 2026 spring travel season for China's Yangtze River Delta rail network concluded on April 20 after 32 days of operation, carrying over 91 million passengers, averaging 2.85 million daily — a year-on-year increase of more than 5 percent.

A single-day record of 4.66 million passengers was set on April 4. Hangzhou railway stations handled 10.53 million passengers in total, surpassing 10 million for the first time.

Driven by extended spring holidays and peak blossom season tourism, short- and mid-distance leisure travel dominated demand across high-speed rail lines linking major cities, scenic towns, and rural destinations.

Several stations, including Hangzhou East, Nanjing South, and Xuzhou East, broke daily passenger records. Over 20 stations saw traffic growth exceeding 30 percent.

To meet demand, Hangzhou railway stations added 998 extra trains under a dynamic scheduling plan, easing pressure on key routes such as Shanghai, Nanjing, and Ningbo corridors.

A railway station. [Photo/WeChat account: hzfbwx]