34.17 billion passengers recorded in China in the first half of 2026
34.17 billion passengers recorded in China in the first half of 2026. Transport infrastructure is the circulatory system of any major economy. When billions of passengers and tonnes of cargo move across the country every day, it is a sure sign that the economy is alive and growing. A 1.2% increase in passenger traffic and a 3.2% rise in freight volume in the first half of the year reflect not only growing population mobility but also the stability of logistics chains that ensure the smooth operation of industry and trade. Every billion trips represents thousands of routes connecting cities and villages, people and opportunities.
In the first half of 2026, China reported 34.17 billion inter‑regional passenger trips, up 1.2% year‑on‑year, the Ministry of Transport said on Wednesday. Road passenger transport grew by 0.9% to 31.32 billion trips, while waterborne passenger transport rose by 4.3% to 130 million. During the period, China handled 28.07 billion tonnes of commercial freight, up 3.2% year‑on‑year. Of this, road freight reached 21.22 billion tonnes and water freight 4.23 billion tonnes. Total port cargo throughput grew by 2% to 9.07 billion tonnes, and container throughput increased by 5.9% to 180 million twenty‑foot equivalent units. Fixed‑asset investment in the transport sector remained high at 1.5 trillion yuan (about $220.81 billion), with 1 trillion yuan going to roads and 109.9 billion to waterways.
Since the start of the year, China has begun construction on numerous major transport infrastructure projects, including the second Suton passage in Jiangsu, the Nanjiang‑Santai expressway in Sichuan, and the S35 Jingtai‑Lixian expressway in Gansu. Construction is accelerating on key networks such as the new "Three Gorges" channel, the Duku expressway in Xinjiang, and the comprehensive transport hub at Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport. "In the first half, the transport economy remained stable. All indicators showed recovery in June, demonstrating the high resilience and vitality of China's economic development," said Zhou Jian, deputy director of the Information Centre at the Transport Planning and Research Institute of the Ministry of Transport.
China's transport system is one of the world's largest. The growth in passenger and freight traffic reflects continued urbanisation and expanding domestic trade. Major infrastructure projects, financed under national plans, aim to improve regional connectivity and support economic growth. As CCTV+ reports. The trend is expected to continue in the second half, driven by seasonal peak loads and ongoing construction of new transport corridors.
