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Millions of drivers were stranded for hours returning from China's biggest holiday, when the free toll policy and bad weather caused an unprecedented collapse on the Asian country's highways.
Um colossal traffic jam took over the highway express from Hushan, China, when about 10 million vehicles tried to return simultaneously after the end of the “National Day Golden WeekThe incident, which became one of the worst traffic jams ever recorded in the country, exposed the challenges facing China's road infrastructure during extended holiday periods.
According to information published by the newspaper The time, the problem started after the end of the celebrations between 1 8 and October, who combined the national day and Mid-Autumn Festival —a rare coincidence that intensified the number of domestic trips. The result was a collapse in roads and toll booths, especially in the busiest stretch of the country.
Wuzhuang Toll: The Epicenter of Road Chaos
O Wuzhuang toll station, considered the largest in China, was the center of the crisis. Despite having 36 toll booths, the structure was unable to support the extraordinary volume of cars who were returning from the holiday. Located at the junction of the highways G40 Shanghai–Shaanxi e G42 Shanghai–Chengdu, next to Hefei–Nanjing Expressway, the location receives traffic from several expressways that converge at a single point — creating an inevitable bottleneck.
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To make matters worse, the narrowing of the 36 cabins to just four lanes caused a complete stoppage of the flow. According to the local media, the Wuzhuang toll reached record 14.800 vehicles per hour, even operating with 12 entry lanes and 24 exit lanes — numbers that highlight the scale of the problem.
Free toll policy and the domino effect on traffic
One of the decisive factors for the chaos was the “free passage” policy, which exempts passenger vehicles from paying tolls during national holidays. The measure, created to encourage domestic tourism, ends up having a severe side effect: monumental traffic jams.
As an emergency response, Chinese authorities implemented 66 extra tolls and activated tidal ranges, designed to alleviate the transit at peak times. Still, the strategy wasn't enough to contain the epic traffic jam.
As traffic crews tried to coordinate the flow, travel warnings were issued across the country, recommending that drivers return at alternative times. In the city of Shenzhen, close to the affected region, the government extended the opening hours of subway and buses, in an attempt to reduce pressure on the road system.
Rains and typhoon worsened the situation on the roads
As if the scenario wasn't chaotic enough, the bad weather contributed to the worsening of the traffic jam. The southern China faced heavy rain warnings due to the passage of the typhoon “Maidem”, which hit the country between the days 6 7 and OctoberThe storm reduced visibility and forced many drivers to drastically reduce their speed, increasing travel times and worsening traffic congestion.
According to local meteorologists, the climate impact was direct: flooded roads, landslides e temporary blocks in several regions contributed to the chaos on the main expressways. As a result, the return from the holiday, which normally takes just a few hours, turned into a journey of up to 24 hours of uninterrupted traffic.
Authorities reinforce warnings and plan changes
Chinese authorities have acknowledged that the toll and highway system needs to undergo structural adjustments. The Ministry of Transport of China announced that it is studying the implementation of intelligent traffic management technologies, such as sensors and dynamic lane control, to prevent scenes like those in Wuzhuang from happening again.
Furthermore, the government intends to review the policies of temporary toll exemption during holidays, which although popular with drivers, overload the infrastructure. Experts say the episode should serve as a “Red alert” on the balance between stimulating domestic tourism and the operational capacity of roads.
A portrait of overpopulation on wheels
A Golden Week is traditionally the period in which hundreds of millions of Chinese travel around the country. In 2025, the combination of the double holiday and adverse weather turned the roads into a veritable sea of cars and horns. For many analysts, the case reflects the explosive growth of vehicle fleet in China, which exceeds 430 million registered cars, making the country the largest automotive market on the planet.
According to experts interviewed by the Chinese press, the aerial image of the endless queues symbolizes the paradox of progress: modern infrastructurebut vulnerable to excess demand. The information was released by the portal The time, based on data from local media and Chinese transport authorities.
Ultimately, the episode goes down in history as one of the biggest traffic jams of the century, remembering that technological advancement and economic growth also bring complex challenges to urban mobility.
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