China's National Day holiday sees strong sales, travel hubs boost crowd control
As China's National Day holiday ends, travellers return early to avoid crowds. Beijing's tourist spots and shops report booming business, with daily sales of some items doubling. Authorities strengthen crowd management at transport hubs.
China's National Day holiday, known as Golden Week, is drawing to a close. Many travellers have chosen to return early to avoid peak crowds. At Beijing's West Railway Station, authorities have deployed additional staff to maintain order.
A traveller surnamed Zhang from Henan province, travelling with her family, said she encountered large crowds throughout her visit to Beijing and decided to head home early to avoid the return rush. In contrast, some younger travellers said they would stay until the last moment before returning.
Beijing's popular attractions, including Tiananmen Square, the National Museum and the Forbidden City, have been fully booked for days. The Qianmen Street area, a landmark along the city's central axis that does not require reservations, has remained bustling. Visitors have been taking photos on the cobblestone streets and enjoying local snacks and drinks such as lùzhǔn xiǎocháng (stewed pork intestines) and dòuzhīr (fermented bean drink).
A staff member at a dòuzhīr shop said the holiday period had brought an overwhelming number of customers, with queues barely stopping. Daily sales of dòuzhīr reached 1,000 bottles, far more than the usual few hundred. Dòuzhīr ice cream, for which one batch of ingredients would normally last half a day, sold out in one to two hours and required restocking.
Souvenir shops have also been packed. A shop manager said the proximity of the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays had drawn more visitors than the Labour Day holiday in May. The shop offered free samples, special packaging and free delivery for purchases, allowing customers to avoid carrying heavy bags. Specialty-packaged Beijing pastries, roast duck and dried meat sold well, with several thousand boxes sold. The manager said sales met expectations.
As the return peak begins, the National Emergency Management Authority said it would work with relevant departments to step up monitoring at transport hubs and take timely measures to prevent excessive crowding of vehicles and people.