Is the Highway Free During the 2020 National Day Holiday?
2 Answers
2020 National Day Holiday highway is free from 0:00 on October 1 to 24:00 on October 8. For ordinary toll roads, the toll is based on the time when the vehicle passes through the toll station or toll lane, while for highways, the toll is determined by the time when the vehicle exits the toll lane. Additionally, the vehicles eligible for free highway travel are passenger vehicles with fewer than 7 seats that travel on toll roads, including motorcycles allowed on ordinary toll roads. For example, if you enter the highway at 21:00 on September 30 and exit at 1:00 on October 1, the entire journey is free. However, if you enter the highway at 23:00 on October 8 and exit at 0:05 on October 9, exceeding the stipulated 24:00, the entire journey will be charged.
I remember that during the 2020 National Day holiday, the expressways were indeed toll-free, starting from 0:00 on October 1st and ending at 24:00 on October 8th. During this period, all passenger vehicles with 7 seats or fewer were exempt from toll fees. This policy was uniformly implemented nationwide, primarily to make travel more convenient and cost-effective during holidays. I often follow the news and know that this has been in place since 2012 to encourage family trips and tourism consumption. However, the traffic volume during the toll-free period is extremely high, causing severe congestion on the highways. It's best to check traffic apps before traveling to avoid peak hours, such as departing at 5:00 AM. Also, note that the policy only applies to passenger vehicles—trucks or vehicles with 8 seats or more are still subject to tolls. While the toll-free policy saves on road fees, it increases time costs, so it's important to remain patient and prioritize safety while driving.
