Huang Xihua, Director of Huizhou Municipal Tourism Bureau, National People's Congress Deputy
Zheng Zeguo, Tourism Marketing Expert
Reporter: Recently, the Ministry of Transport announced the toll-free policy for expressways during the Year of the Snake Spring Festival, with the specific period set from 00:00 on February 9 to 24:00 on February 15. For regular roads, the time is based on when a vehicle passes through the toll lane at the station, while for expressways, it's based on when a vehicle exits the toll lane. Do you think this time there will be chaos similar to the National Day toll-free period?
Huang Xihua: Unlike the National Day holiday, many people choose to return home earlier before the Spring Festival break, so the volume of traffic is unlikely to exceed that of the last National Day toll-free period. Additionally, this time the highway authorities have stipulated that no cards will be issued at free lanes and vehicles will be allowed to pass by simply lifting the barrier, which also reduces congestion at toll stations.
Zheng Zeguo: Although the Spring Festival holiday sees the second national toll-free policy for expressways, due to factors such as weather, self-drive tours won’t have the same freedom of distance as during the “Golden Week” of October. Based on experience, self-drive trips during the Spring Festival are more limited, with fewer viable routes. For example, during the Spring Festival, most parts of northern China experience sub-zero freezing temperatures, with many areas covered in ice and snow, posing a serious challenge for drivers from southern regions, not to mention the occasional extreme weather.
Reporter: Should the general public take advantage of this toll-free opportunity to travel?
Huang Xihua: The industry expects that most residents traveling by car during the Spring Festival will be returning home, with departure times likely concentrated on the two days before New Year’s Eve. There shouldn't be major traffic jams on the first day of the toll-free policy. Also, taking Huizhou as an example, many local scenic spots are free, making it very suitable for self-drive tours.
Zheng Zeguo: Spring travel is mainly constrained by trains and flights being fully booked, and at this time, many cities in the Pearl River Delta region become quite empty, making it ideal for self-drive trips.
Reporter: If tourists choose to drive themselves, what should they pay special attention to?
Huang Xihua: Popular self-drive routes among Cantonese, such as those to Hunan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, may see icy conditions on certain sections, where highways are prone to freezing. Almost every year, these stretches face road closures, making travel difficult. It’s recommended that travelers pay close attention to the weather conditions of both their destinations and the routes in advance to avoid having their trips ruined.
Zheng Zeguo: With more and more families owning private cars, self-drive tours have become one of the most favored ways to travel due to their high degree of freedom and privacy—especially for family outings. Although the toll fees for expressways are waived, dining and hotel prices tend to rise during the Spring Festival, which is something to keep in mind.