Guangzhou's transportation sector got off to a roaring start in 2026, with both passenger and freight volumes surging to new highs during the first two months of the year.

According to data released by the Guangzhou Bureau of Statistics on March 19, the city handled 59.04 million passenger trips from January to February, up 8.3 percent year on year. Freight volumes also climbed steadily, with port cargo throughput exceeding 100 million metric tons for the first time during the Jan-Feb period.

All four major transport modes — waterway, railway, aviation, and highway — recorded passenger growth, with increases of 20.2 percent, 12.6 percent, 4.6 percent, and 3.3 percent respectively.

Railway passenger traffic surged 52.4 percent in February alone, reaching 16.02 million trips, as trains took on the bulk of Spring Festival travel demand.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport handled 14.97 million passengers in Jan-Feb, up 11.3 percent from a year ago, ranking first among Chinese airports for two consecutive months. International passenger traffic soared 22.6 percent, far outpacing domestic growth, while international cargo and mail throughput jumped 15.7 percent.

Guangzhou Port demonstrated its growing role in the "dual circulation" development pattern. The port handled 105 million metric tons of cargo and 4.39 million TEUs of containers in the first two months, up 2.7 percent and 6.9 percent respectively. Foreign trade container throughput surged 19.3 percent to 2.57 million TEUs, outperforming domestic trade and underscoring the port's transition from a domestic trade hub to a pivotal node in the dual circulation strategy.

Source: Guangzhou Daily
Reporter: Zhao Fangyuan
English Author & Editor: Lyu Yun