China holiday border rush 2026: busiest dates and ports to avoid

China is warning international travellers to expect unusually heavy border traffic around the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) forecasts average daily cross-border traffic of 2.25 million passenger trips during the Mid-Autumn holiday and 2.15 million during the National Day holiday, with the busiest single day expected to exceed 2.4 million crossings.

The main peak dates are 25 September, 27 September, 1 October and 4 October 2026. Expats, international residents and business travellers using major airports or the Hong Kong and Macao land crossings should allow extra time and check their passport, visa or residence documents before travelling.

When will China’s border crossings be busiest?

According to the National Immigration Administration’s 22 September travel notice, passenger flows are expected to peak on 25 and 27 September, then again on 1 and 4 October. The highest daily total is forecast to pass 2.4 million crossings nationwide.

The NIA says border-control authorities will monitor passenger flows and issue local peak-time warnings. It has also instructed ports to increase staffing and manage queues during the busiest periods.

Which Chinese airports are expected to be busiest?

Major international airports will see particularly heavy traffic. During the Mid-Autumn holiday, the NIA forecasts average daily border crossings of about:

• Shanghai Pudong: 105,000
• Guangzhou Baiyun: 55,000
• Beijing Capital: 54,000
• Chengdu Tianfu: 20,000
• Beijing Daxing: 18,000
• Shenzhen Bao’an: 18,000

For the National Day holiday, Shanghai Pudong is forecast at about 107,000 crossings a day, Beijing Capital at 55,000 and Guangzhou Baiyun at 55,000.

Hong Kong and Macao crossings will also be under pressure

Land crossings connecting mainland China with Hong Kong and Macao are expected to be especially busy as holiday travel overlaps with large events in the Greater Bay Area.

Among the highest-volume points, the NIA forecasts roughly 263,000 daily crossings at Shenzhen Luohu during the Mid-Autumn holiday and 383,000 at Zhuhai Gongbei. Shenzhen Bay, Futian, West Kowloon, Hengqin, Qingmao and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge are also expected to carry large passenger volumes.

What should foreign residents check before travelling?

The NIA is asking both Chinese and foreign travellers to check current port conditions before setting out and to make sure their travel documents and visas are valid. For international residents, that means checking the passport you will actually travel on, any required visa or residence documentation, and the rules for your destination and return journey.

If possible, avoid arriving at a land crossing or airport immigration area immediately before a known peak. Airlines, rail operators and individual ports may also publish more specific notices as the holiday period develops.

Travellers who run into immigration-control difficulties in China can contact the NIA’s 12367 service or ask border-control officers at the port for help.

Useful China travel links

If you are planning around the holiday calendar, Babylon’s guide to the 2026 Mid-Autumn and National Day dates and make-up workdays explains the schedule. International residents can also see our practical guide to paying in China with Alipay, Weixin Pay, foreign cards and e-CNY.

Last verified: 23 September 2026. Traffic figures are official forecasts and may change with real-time conditions.