BEIJING -- China Railway Corporation (CRC) said on Friday that around 12.54 million passenger trips were made on Thursday, China's National Day and the first day of a week-long holiday from Oct 1 to 7.

The figure reached a record high, up 6.9 percent year on year thanks to the fast development of China's high-speed rail.

The daily passenger flow is expected to hit 11 million on Friday, said the company.

On Friday, the Chinese railway operator dispatched 244 more trains to guarantee all passengers reach their destinations.

China has 17,000 kilometers of high-speed rail covering much of the country, according to the company.

The week-long National Day holiday began on Thursday. More than 532 million domestic trips are expected to be made from Oct 1 to 7, according to the China Tourism Academy. A variety of measures are being rolled out to ensure a safe, happy vacation for China's tourists.