Asia’s largest toll road gridlocked as millions travel home after China’s golden week holiday; watch video
Aerial footage showed thousands of vehicles queuing at the 36-lane Wuzhuang Toll Station in Chuzhou, Anhui province, on Tuesday as holidaymakers tried to exit the area. This is also Asia’s largest toll station. Social media users were quick to share viral footage showing the lanes shining with endless red stoplights slowly turning into a four-lane queue beyond the toll booths. This traffic jam in China was so dense and structured that some commented on X and wondered if it was AI.
Record-breaking holiday travel pushes roads to their limits
China’s National Day holiday is one of the busiest periods for domestic travel, and this year it coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival, causing a long break from October 1-8. According to China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, approximately 888 million trips were made this year, up from 765 million trips during last year’s seven-day holiday.
Comparisons to China’s worst ever traffic jam
The massive traffic jam has drawn comparisons to China’s infamous traffic jam in 2010, which lasted 12 days and stretched for more than 100 kilometers. China National Highway 110 and Beijing-Tibet Expressway. At the time, construction, increased heavy truck traffic and breakdowns caused traffic congestion, causing some drivers to travel as little as 1 km per day. Villagers reportedly took advantage of stranded motorists by selling basic goods such as instant noodles and cigarettes at high prices.
national holiday of china
China’s main national holiday is National Day, which is celebrated on October 1 and symbolizes the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. This day is celebrated with a week-long “Golden Week” holiday, usually running from October 1 to October 7, although the exact dates may vary depending on the calendar and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
