Is there a toll fee for highways during the Mid-Autumn Festival?
4 Answers
There is a toll fee for highways during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Below is more information about toll-free highway access: 1. Time Frame: Toll-free access is available during four national statutory holidays—Spring Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, Labor Day, and National Day—as well as the consecutive holidays determined by the State Council for these statutory holidays. The toll-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 toll is based on the time the vehicle passes the toll lane, while for highways, it is based on the time the vehicle exits the toll lane). 2. Vehicle Scope: Toll-free access applies to passenger vehicles with seven seats or fewer (including seven seats) traveling on toll roads, as well as motorcycles permitted on ordinary toll roads.
My experience of driving on highways over the years is that tolls are usually charged normally during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The nationally designated toll-free holidays only include the Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day. Although the Mid-Autumn Festival is important, it is not included in the toll-free period. I remember driving back to my hometown during last year's Mid-Autumn Festival and specifically asking the toll station staff, who confirmed that tolls were required. However, some local governments may temporarily introduce preferential policies, so it's best to check notices from local transportation departments in advance. I recommend setting up your license plate in your mobile map app before traveling—the system will automatically calculate toll sections. If you're driving long distances, try to avoid peak travel times. The traffic during Mid-Autumn Festival can be heavy, and queuing at toll stations to pay fees can waste even more time.
Last Mid-Autumn Festival, I drove my family out for a trip and paid the highway toll. After checking the information, I found that this is clearly stipulated. Unlike the Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival is not a toll-free holiday, so the charges are actually reasonable, as road and bridge maintenance requires funding. However, highways can indeed get congested during holidays. It might be better to take national or provincial roads instead—though it takes a bit longer, you can save around a hundred yuan. If your budget allows, taking the highway is definitely faster. Remember to get an ETC pass in advance to avoid queues. Every time I pass through the toll station, it’s done in a flash—super convenient. If you’re driving an electric car, you’ll also need to plan charging stops, as long-distance trips drain the battery quickly.
I've specifically researched the traffic regulations regarding highway tolls during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The policy stipulates that tolls are only waived for four statutory holidays, and although the Mid-Autumn Festival is a holiday, it's not on the list. Upon closer consideration, this actually makes sense—Spring Festival is the peak time for returning home, while Qingming, Labor Day, and National Day are all peak travel seasons. The Mid-Autumn Festival is relatively less congested in comparison. My suggestion is to opt for national highways or high-speed rail for short trips, as driving 200-300 kilometers one way can be quite exhausting. If you must drive, remember to fill up the tank and pack snacks—I can certainly speak from experience about being stuck on the highway during Mid-Autumn munching on mooncakes. Also, make sure to bring a car charger, as phone navigation drains battery quickly.
