China reports 735 mln railway trips during summer travel rush

BEIJING -- More Chinese traveled by rail during the just-concluded summer travel rush, the latest data from the national railway operator showed.

A total of 735 million railway trips in China were made from July 1 to Aug 31, up 10.4 percent year on year, according to the China Railway Corporation (CRC).

On Aug 24, some 13.69 million passenger trips were made by rail, a daily record for the travel rush, the CRC said.

During the period, railway departments ensured the safe and smooth flow of railway system via promptly-launched emergency plans, despite extreme conditions brought by typhoons, downpours, mudslides and landslides in parts of the country.

The summer travel rush, which lasted from July 1 to Aug 31 this year, often puts the country's transportation system to the test.

During the period, college students made trips between their hometowns and universities during the summer holiday, while the country welcomes the busy season for tourism and leisure.