The total traffic volume on roads under Baotou's jurisdiction reached 725,400 vehicle trips during the Spring Festival holiday from Feb 15 to 23, a year-on-year increase of 17 percent.

The daily average was recorded as 80,600 vehicle trips, 1.5 times the usual volume. Traffic levels peaked on Feb 22, with a single-day volume of 104,100 vehicle trips.

Tolls were waived for small passenger vehicles with seven seats or fewer on national toll roads from midnight on Feb 15 to 12 pm on Feb 23. Some 683,700 small passenger vehicles were exempted from tolls, worth a total of 9.35 million yuan ($1.35 million), for the benefit of the public.

Cultural and tourism activities also drove a significant increase in traffic flow. Guyang county held a drone light show on Feb 22, attracting a large number of residents and tourists. The Baotou-Guyang Highway saw 50,000 vehicle trips, 2.01 times the usual volume.