Holiday travel rush tests China's railways

BEIJING - With Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the nation's railway system is feeling the strain as travelers rush to get home before the holiday.

Although the festival, falling on September 8, has yet to come, a rising number of travelers heading for their hometown or tourist attractions has already heaped pressure on railway authorities.

Friday saw 7.55 million passengers as the first day of the weekend-long travel rush begins. The number of travels up more than 10 percent from a year ago. China Railway Corporation predicted the figure will climb to around 8.45 million passengers on Saturday.

The company planned to arranged 332 temporary trains on Saturday to meet the surging travel demands.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, which will fall on Monday under China's lunar calendar, is a traditional occasion for family reunions. It's the second most important family holiday after the Spring Festival.