China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) has issued an unprecedented traffic forecast for the Mid-Autumn Festival (25–27 September) and National Day “Golden Week” (1–7 October). According to the bulletin, average daily crossings are expected to hit 2.25 million during the Mid-Autumn period and 2.15 million during National Day, with a single-day peak likely to exceed 2.4 million travellers. Major international gateways such as Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Beijing Capital, Chengdu Tianfu, Beijing Daxing and Shenzhen Bao’an airports will see the greatest volumes, with Shanghai alone handling more than 10 million passengers over the combined holidays. Land ports connecting Hong Kong and Macau are also bracing for a crush. Daily passenger throughput at Shenzhen’s Luohu, Shenzhen Bay and Futian checkpoints is forecast at 260 000, 212 000 and 191 000 respectively, while Zhuhai’s Gongbei port could top 380 000 passengers a day. The surge reflects pent-up demand for family reunions, cross-border tourism and large-scale events such as fireworks displays and concerts in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area. To keep queues below 30 minutes, border-inspection units nationwide have been ordered to open all inspection counters, add mobile kiosks, and publish real-time wait-time information via social-media feeds and the 12367 immigration hotline. Airports will coordinate with airlines to stagger flight banks, while land ports will add shuttle buses and temporary traffic lanes. The NIA also reminded outbound Chinese nationals to double-check the validity of passports, visas and destination-country entry rules—especially new vaccination or insurance requirements that some jurisdictions have reinstated. Travellers are urged to avoid destinations with outbreak-level infectious-disease risks and to purchase comprehensive travel insurance before departure. For multinational companies the notice is a red flag: staff travelling in or out of China during the next two weeks should build extra buffer time into itineraries, reconfirm flight slots and secure any required invitation letters or work permits well in advance. Corporations moving high-value personnel or equipment across the border may wish to make use of VIP or “fast-track” clearance channels where available, or shift critical shipments to air-cargo lanes less affected by passenger surges.
