These were the unbelievable scenes as millions of Chinese drivers took to the country’s roads during a week of national celebration.
Hundreds of cars queued across dozens of lanes as holidaymakers tried to make it home for the end of the week-long National Day festival, which commemorates the creation of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949.
The vehicles were travelling on the gigantic G4 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway, which has about 50 lanes in places.
But these immense tailbacks – pictured on Tuesday, the penultimate day of the celebration – were apparently caused by a new toll station in Beijing.
After the checkpoint the road narrows to far fewer lanes.
Amid the traffic, some drivers passed the time by exiting their cars and strolling on the super-motorway.
The incredible sight was just one example of congestion caused by a surge in people taking to the roads.
Motorways in other major cities including Shanghai also experienced large-scale disruption.
The National Day celebration, also known as one of the country’s Golden Weeks, is one of the rare times Chinese citizens can take several continuous days off work.
Three paid days of holiday are given and surrounding weekends are rearranged so workers can have seven consecutive days off.
