Is the highway free during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday?
2 Answers
Highway tolls are not waived during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. Below are the relevant regulations for free highway passage: 1. Eligible vehicles: Passenger vehicles with 7 seats or fewer (including 7 seats) traveling on toll roads, including motorcycles permitted on ordinary toll roads. 2. Free passage periods: The 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. The free period starts at 00:00 on the first day of the holiday and ends at 24:00 on the last day (for ordinary roads, the time is based on when the vehicle passes the toll booth; for highways, the time is based on when the vehicle exits the toll lane).
The Mid-Autumn Festival holiday generally does not qualify for free expressway tolls in China. The expressway toll-free policy mainly applies to major holidays such as Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day (May 1st), and National Day (October 1st), when travel volume is high and the government encourages convenient transportation. Although Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally a time for family reunions, it is not included in the fixed toll-free periods. I understand that policy changes are rare, but it's advisable to check official channels like the Ministry of Transport website or the 12123 app for specific arrangements before traveling.
Mid-Autumn Festival travel often sees peak congestion. While toll-free periods can save costs, they may increase the risk of traffic jams, requiring travelers to weigh the pros and cons. From personal experience, planning routes in advance to avoid peak hours proves more economical and safer. Regardless, checking the latest announcements before departure is wise, and don’t forget to bring your driver’s license and emergency tools. Wishing everyone a joyful festival and safe travels—safety comes first.
