30 Mar 2022 | 05:08 AM UTC
China: Transport and business disruptions possible nationwide during Qingming Festival April 5
China to mark Qingming Festival April 5. Transport, business disruptions possible during the holiday period. Confirm reservations.
Event
China will commemorate Qingming April 5. The government has declared April 3-5 as official holidays, and many businesses and most government facilities will close for the holiday period. Traditionally during Qingming, millions of people tend to their ancestors' gravesites. While local authorities have urged people not to return to their hometowns due to COVID-19 concerns, many people are likely to continue with plans for the holiday. Some cemeteries offer cleaning services to reduce the influx of visitors; local officials will likely impose a reservation system and limit visitor capacity at outdoor cemeteries and indoor facilities as a precaution. Stricter measures for Qingming are possible in localities experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. Authorities in Shanghai have suspended all on-site tomb-sweeping through April 5, and testing requirements are in place for people who need to inter urns of deceased relatives. Increased security and localized transport disruptions are likely near cemeteries.
Private vehicle use will probably spike dramatically and may cause significant congestion on national highways and an increase in accidents. Traffic disruptions are likely even in relatively remote communities, as many people will visit ancestral villages and tombs in rural areas. The high volume of passengers could also affect rail, bus, and airline networks, though severe disruptions are less likely.
The holiday also carries an increased risk of fires, especially in forested areas, as many participants will burn symbolic paper offerings. Officials in Yunnan and Sichuan have banned this symbolic burning during the holiday in recent years amid a heightened threat of wildfires.
Advice
Confirm all rail, bus, and airline reservations. Allow additional time for travel. Drive defensively due to heavy traffic on major thoroughfares and consider minimizing unnecessary driving on days before and after the holiday observance. Exercise increased caution in rural areas due to the elevated risk of fires.
