In a never-seen-before traffic jam, massive crowds flooded China’s roads as millions of people made their way home after the eight-day Golden Week holiday. The unprecedented congestion left countless motorists stranded for hours on one of the country’s busiest highways, and videos of the October 9 mega jam have since gone viral.
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The gridlock unfolded on the G4 Beijing–Hong Kong–Macau Expressway, a stretch that spans 30 to 50 lanes in some areas. According to media reports, over 750 million people were returning to cities — nearly half of China’s population.
For the first time, China's enormous traffic congestion turned into a nightmare for drivers. The major traffic jam, occurring after the week-long Golden Week holiday, is capturing headlines as millions find themselves stuck in a 24-hour traffic standstill, according to the Daily Mail.
The viral video of China’s massive traffic jam sparked a flood of reactions across social media, with users both amused and horrified by the scale of the chaos. One user humorously questioned, “So where did everybody go to the bathroom?” while another observed, “Chaos looks beautiful when you are not in it.”
Many highlighted the practical nightmares of being stuck in gridlock for hours, with comments like “You better have a great bladder for this traffic” and “Imagine being low on fuel and running out. Now what?”
During this period, millions embarked on journeys to celebrate the extended break for China’s National Day. Reports indicate that the traffic congestion was more severe than that experienced during the Chinese New Year.
Known as the G4, the Beijing–Hong Kong and Macau Expressway, or Jinggang'ao Expressway, stretches 2,272.65 km, linking Beijing to Shenzhen in Guangdong province. It ends at the Huanggang Port Control Point in Shenzhen. A similar scenario unfolded at the beginning of the 'Golden Week' holiday, which started on October 1.