Is Highway Toll-Free During Mid-Autumn Festival?

[BentleyAnn]

Mid-Autumn Festival is not a major national statutory holiday, so there is no toll-free policy. Below are the relevant regulations regarding toll-free holidays for vehicles: 1. Definition of Toll-Free: The national highway toll-free policy during major holidays refers to the exemption of tolls for small passenger vehicles. Large trucks or freight vehicles are not eligible for this policy. 2. Toll-Free Periods: The toll-free periods apply to four national statutory holidays—Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day—as well as the consecutive holidays determined by the State Council for these statutory holidays.

[MacBriella]

I remember last Mid-Autumn Festival when I excitedly drove home, only to find the toll booth still charging as usual. Later, I specifically checked the policy and found that national highway toll exemptions in China only apply to four statutory holidays: Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day. Although Mid-Autumn Festival is also a major holiday, it's not on the free list. According to highway department statistics, last year's Mid-Autumn Festival saw over 40 million vehicles daily on national expressways. I recommend installing a navigation app in advance to avoid congested sections. By the way, these two days would be good to check your ETC device – don't get stuck at the toll gate like I did last year and waste time.

[LeErin]

My friend at the transportation department mentioned this last week—there’s indeed no toll-free policy for highways during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Many assume holidays are always free, but in reality, only 20 days a year offer toll exemptions. For example, this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival (September 15–17) will see normal toll collection at all stations. A special reminder for new energy vehicle drivers: while charging stations in service areas have increased by 35% compared to last year, peak hours still involve long queues. Consider departing at 6 AM to avoid traffic and save battery. Also, pack enough drinking water—last year, a friend paid 30 yuan for bottled water while stuck in traffic.

[Keegan]

A couple of days ago, while helping my neighbor check the Mid-Autumn Festival travel policies, I stumbled upon a little-known fact: National Day toll-free policy stems from the 1994 revision of the Highway Law, whereas Mid-Autumn Festival wasn't included. Last year during Mid-Autumn, I personally confirmed that ETC lanes still deduct fees as usual. Pay special attention to regions like Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai express delivery zones where traffic jams start as early as the afternoon of September 14th. It's advisable to prepare 200 yuan in cash since mobile payments may fail at some older toll stations. Parents should pack motion sickness medicine - last year my nephew vomited in my brand-new car during the traffic jam.

[VonLilah]

Just called my parents back home to confirm, there was actually a misunderstanding about the Mid-Autumn Festival highway toll exemption. Only in 2020 when Mid-Autumn and National Day overlapped was it free—normally, Mid-Autumn alone is still tolled. If traveling on September 15 this year, it's advised to avoid the top ten congested sections like Jinggang'ao and Shenhai highways. I always keep an inflatable mattress in my car for napping during traffic jams. Remember to check the spare tire pressure—last year, a colleague waited three hours for roadside assistance after a blowout. Don’t store mooncakes in the trunk; they melt easily in high temperatures.

[VanJuliet]

Last Mid-Autumn Festival, I was stuck on the Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway for five hours, and the toll collector clearly stated there was no exemption. Actually, if you do the math carefully, small passenger vehicles cost about 0.5 yuan per kilometer, so a 300-kilometer trip would only save you around 100 yuan. It's better to use that money to enhance your experience: download some podcasts—I highly recommend "The Road of the Old Driver" for some great entertainment; pack some self-heating hot pots, which are more cost-effective than fast food at service areas; and bring a car fridge to keep fruits fresh. Most importantly, check your brake pads thoroughly, as continuous downhill sections are particularly demanding on them.