During the upcoming Qingming Festival, Beijing’s Municipal Transportation Commission has announced that all 10 public transportation special lines dedicated to commemoration and sweeping will be operating for free, along with free rides on high-speed passenger cars. Additionally, Line 4 and Line 7 will have extended hours of operation on April 6 to accommodate the increased passenger flow.
With the peak of the Qingming Festival sweeping expected to fall on March 30th and 31st, as well as April 4th, 5th, and 6th, the city anticipates a rise in trips in and out of Beijing, short-distance travel, and intra-city activities. This surge in activity will likely lead to increased traffic pressure on surrounding highways and urban roads.
To ensure the smooth travel of citizens, the Municipal Transportation Commission has implemented various measures such as adding temporary stations around cemeteries, increasing transportation capacity around scenic spots, and evacuating passenger flow in a timely manner. In anticipation of the increased demand, ground buses will operate 26 tourist routes and provide customized transportation services during the holiday period.
Rail transit services will also be adjusted to accommodate the higher passenger volume, with reserved trains and additional trains added to lines adjacent to cemeteries. Operations around park scenic areas and business districts will be delayed as needed, and measures will be taken to manage passenger flow effectively.
In response to the expected increase in taxi demand, the municipal transportation department will guide empty taxis to take orders when there is a capacity shortage. Additionally, all toll roads in Beijing will waive tolls for passenger vehicles with less than 7 seats during the holiday period.
To address parking shortages, the city plans to tap potential parking spaces around cemeteries and scenic spots, adding over 6,000 parking spaces in total. Parking attendants will be stationed to ensure orderly parking and quick movement of vehicles, with measures in place to address any illegal parking activities.
Overall, the city is taking proactive steps to ensure safe and efficient travel for citizens during the Qingming Festival holiday period.