The 2026 New Year holiday runs from January 1 to January 3. As the holiday approaches, this guidance is intended to help the public plan ahead and enjoy the holiday.
Roads
Expressways will not be toll-free during this period.
Traffic authorities expect a significant outbound rush on December 31, the day before the holiday, with a smaller return peak on January 3. Traffic pressure will be most pronounced in the Pearl River Delta, with private cars accounting for a substantial share of vehicles on the road.
Weather forecasts suggest that fog may occur on some expressway sections at certain times, while low temperatures could lead to wet and slippery road conditions. Drivers are advised to remain alert and choose their routes carefully.
Roadside assistance is available at 020-96533 or through the WeChat mini-program "Yue Rescue (粵救援)."
Railways
From December 31 to January 4, China Railway Guangzhou Group will add 601 additional high-speed train services on major routes, including Beijing-Guangzhou, Guiyang-Guangzhou, and Guangzhou-Zhanjiang, to meet holiday demand.
The railway travel rush is expected to last from December 31 to January 4, with an estimated 11.1 million passenger trips handled by the Guangzhou railway network. Passenger volume is forecast to peak on January 1, with around 2.6 million trips in a single day.
Several major stations in Guangdong have upgraded their services. Guangzhou South Railway Station has updated large display screens in its departure hall to show the nearest ticket-check gate for each carriage. Key hubs, including Shenzhen North, Guangzhou Baiyun, and Changsha South, have deployed extra staff and opened additional security and ticket-check channels to reduce waiting times.
Railway authorities stress that the 12306 website and app are the only official online ticketing platforms. Passengers are urged to buy tickets through official channels to avoid extra charges and protect their personal information.
Metro
On December 31, 2025, Guangzhou metro services will be extended by 1.5 hours, with an additional 30-minute extension on Lines 1, 2, 3 (including Line 3 North), 5, 6, 7, 8 and Line 12 (east and west sections).
On January 1 and January 3, services on Lines 1, 2, 3 (including Line 3 North), 5, 7, Line 12 West (Xunfenggang–Guangzhou Gymnasium, 潯峰崗-廣州體育館) and Line 22 will run one hour longer than usual.
On January 3, Lines 14 and 21 will operate on denser timetables to manage returning student traffic. Line 14 will also add short-turn services between Jiahewanggang and Taiping (嘉禾望崗-太平) from 2:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photo | China Railway Guangzhou Group
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
