Saturday, Sunday to see heavy traffic as travellers return

Travel attractions across China saw 4-million visitors during the first four days of the week-long National Day holiday. That's a third more than the same period last year. Tourism may have reached a new peak on Friday.

Although more than half of Golden Week has now passed, people are still busy traveling around the country. The number of tourists visiting recognized travel attractions is expected to surge to a new high on Friday, the holiday peak.

Traditional travel destinations, like Beijing, Shanghai, Luoyang and Wuhan, are still popular among visitors. Although the new Olympic venues in Beijing have received even more visitors than the usual famous sites, like the Forbidden City and Great Wall.

And hotels are busy welcoming travellers as well. Hotel occupancy rates at travel destinations, such as Changsha, Ruijin, Pingyao and Yulong Mountain, are well over ninety percent.

The authorities have received just 55 telephone complaints, involving travel agents and accommodations. And only one transportation-related accident has been reported -- it was in Guangdong province.

To handle the travel rush, the railways have doubled their capacity by linking two trains together. Extra trains have also been added to the schedule to relieve some of the pressure.

Saturday and Sunday will see heavy traffic as travellers begin to return home. The railway authorities say train tickets to major cities are all sold out.