BEIJING, April 7 -- China recorded more than 740 million trips across the country during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday, which lasted from April 4 to 6, as passenger travels grew sharply from a year ago, government data showed Sunday.

The Ministry of Transport said that an average of 246.8 million trips were made each day during the three-day period, up 53.5 percent year on year.

Specifically, daily railway trips averaged 16.56 million, up 75.1 percent; waterway trips averaged 916,000, up 84.9 percent; and air trips averaged about 1.68 million, up 21.9 percent, the data showed.

Meanwhile, road trips totaled 682.92 million during the period, with a daily average of 227.64 million, up 52.3 percent year on year, the data showed.

Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival focusing on paying tribute to the dead and the worship of ancestors. During the festival period, it is also customary to enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing.