[Beijing = E-Daily Lee Myeongcheol Correspondent] Following the brief Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, China is set to begin its seven-day National Day “Golden Week” holiday. During this National Day holiday, an average of about 300 million people are expected to travel each day, raising hopes for increased consumer spending. With the extended holiday, overseas travel by Chinese citizens is also expected to rise, and a large influx of visitors is anticipated in South Korea, a popular travel destination.

According to China’s Ministry of Transport on the 30th, interregional population movement within China during this National Day holiday period—October 1–7—is projected to reach 2.13 billion people (based on cumulative counts, including repeat travelers). This averages out to about 300 million people per day.

The day with the heaviest traffic during the holiday is expected to be the first day, October 1, with an estimated 340 million people on the move. In particular, highway traffic nationwide is expected to surge sharply during the holiday period. On the first day of the National Day holiday, highway traffic is projected to reach 71 million vehicles—1.9 times the daily average for August.

In the rail sector, a special transportation period runs from September 23 to October 8, covering both the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day. During this period, the state-owned railway is expected to transport 284 million passengers, with a single-day peak of 24.4 million passengers—a record high for National Day.

In the civil aviation sector, the number of domestic passengers is expected to reach 31.9 million from September 25 to October 7, with the daily peak likely exceeding 2.6 million.

In particular, if people take annual leave on the weekdays of September 28–30 following the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday from September 25–27, they can enjoy an ultra-long 13-day vacation extending through the National Day holiday. Consequently, overseas travel by Chinese citizens is also on the rise.

According to forecasts by China’s National Immigration Administration, the average daily number of travelers crossing the border during the National Day holiday is expected to reach 2.16 million.

Ma Bing, Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, explained at a recent press conference, “This year’s aviation market has seen strong demand during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, with overseas travel showing impressive growth.” He added, “Domestically, flights have been concentrated in major regions such as southwestern, south-central, and eastern China, while several new international routes have been planned; the daily peak number of flights is expected to reach 20,000.”

Amid a surge in overseas travel by Chinese citizens, South Korea is emerging as a major destination. According to the “September 2026 China Tourism Intentions Report” released by Dragon Trail International, a Chinese market research firm, 32% of those planning to travel abroad this year said they intend to depart during the National Day holiday.

In terms of destinations, South Korea ranked first with 20.1%. It was followed by Singapore (6.6%), Japan (6.0%), Hong Kong (5.9%), and Macau (4.9%). Forty-six percent of respondents said they plan to travel for 6 to 10 days, and the most common per-person budget—including international transportation and accommodation—was 10,000 to 20,000 yuan, cited by 28% of respondents.

In a Golden Week forecast report by the Chinese online travel platform Tongcheng, Seoul was listed among the top 10 popular overseas travel destinations, alongside Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, Sydney, Singapore, Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, London, and Dubai.

Another Chinese travel platform, UmeTrip, reported that outbound travel to the United Kingdom, Russia, South Korea, and Thailand increased during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, with Seoul ranking as the top overseas destination, seeing a 50% year-over-year increase.

One reason South Korea has become a popular travel destination for Chinese tourists is its proximity. Major Chinese cities such as Beijing and Shanghai can be reached in just two hours from Incheon International Airport. The time difference is also only one hour.

Another factor is the recent conflict between China and Japan over the Taiwan issue. Since last year, China has been advising its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan. Due to both government recommendations and the prevailing social climate, Chinese travelers are avoiding Japan—once a popular destination—and are increasingly turning to South Korea as an alternative.

The more favorable exchange rate compared to the past is also a positive factor for Chinese travelers. The current won-yuan exchange rate is around 202 won, having risen by about 20 won in just three years. Since the won has become that much cheaper in China, the financial burden of travel has effectively decreased.

Incheon International Airport is preparing for an average of 49,500 to 55,000 foreign arrivals per day from September 30 to October 3. Meanwhile, the retail sector, including duty-free shops, is anticipating a boom in business driven by Chinese tourists.