China's railway network set a new single-day record by handling 24.8 million passengers on May 1, signaling robust domestic tourism and potential consumer spending growth. The figure exceeded the previous year by 1.7 million trips, with an additional 19.7 million journeys expected on May 2. Official booking channels recorded 117 million train tickets sold during the May Day holiday period. This surge reflects strong travel demand and suggests a possible uptick in consumer activity, offering a glimmer of hope for China's economy. The world's second-largest economy has struggled with fragile consumption since the pandemic, relying heavily on exports for growth despite persistent property market challenges and weak domestic spending.
