China Eastern Prepares for Peak Golden Week Travel
China is preparing for the 2025 Golden Week when the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays coincide, prompting a significant surge in travel. China Eastern Airlines together with its subsidiaries Shanghai Airlines and China United Airlines will operate a total of 816 aircraft, including 11 domestically produced C919 jets. China Eastern plans to run roughly 3,174 flights daily over 988 routes, serving 246 cities across 37 countries. The updated schedule aims to accommodate the anticipated rise in domestic and international travel.
To help travelers plan their trips effectively, the airline has announced details about expected travel patterns during the holiday period. Travel during the holiday period is expected to follow this pattern:
- Peak outbound travel on October 1
- Return journeys around October 8
- A secondary travel surge on October 3 and 4
- Increased flight frequency at key hub airports and popular tourist routes
- Adjustments aimed at providing more departure and return options and reducing congestion
Domestic travelers now have more opportunities to visit notable attractions. In Beijing, passengers can explore the Great Wall at Mutianyu and the Summer Palace. In Inner Mongolia, visitors can experience the Hulunbuir Grasslands and Genhe Valley. Visitors to Hangzhou have the opportunity to experience West Lake and the Longjing Tea Plantations. These destinations are accessible thanks to increased flight capacity on routes such as Shanghai Pudong to Kashgar, Shanghai Pudong to Yining, and Shanghai Pudong to Dunhuang.
Internationally, expanded flights provide access to multiple popular sites. In Osaka, visitors can reach Osaka Aquarium and Universal Studios Japan. Tokyo travelers can visit Mount Takao and Odaiba Seaside Park. Sydney offers Bondi Beach and Taronga Zoo. Kuala Lumpur gives travelers the chance to visit Batu Caves and Sunway Lagoon, while aircraft improvements on major routes help handle increased cross-border demand during the holiday.
These developments offer travelers more flexibility and improved conditions. More daily flights and bigger aircraft help ease pressure on busy routes, and travelers are advised to book early to ensure preferred flights. The revised Golden Week schedule gives travelers more certainty when planning trips within China or abroad. Such changes are intended to streamline holiday journeys and offer travelers better access to popular locations both domestically and internationally.