As millions of Chinese travelers packed their bags for the National Day holiday, a menacing force brewed over the South China Sea. Typhoon Matmo, already notorious for causing flooding in the Philippines earlier in the week, barreled toward southern China, prompting sweeping closures and emergency measures across Hainan, Guangdong, and beyond. The timing could hardly have been worse: this was the heart of China’s eight-day Golden Week, a period when an estimated 2.36 billion trips were expected across the country, according to Xinhua.
By late afternoon on October 4, 2025, the storm was closing in. The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) in Macau issued the No. 3 tropical cyclone signal at 4:00 p.m., warning that Matmo was about 450 kilometers south-southeast of the city and intensifying as it sped across the central and northern South China Sea. Winds in Macau were forecast to strengthen significantly, with intermittent heavy showers expected to lash the city from Saturday afternoon. The bureau cautioned that if conditions worsened, a higher No. 8 signal might be issued that night, and the astronomical spring tide anticipated on Sunday morning could lead to flooding in low-lying areas due to storm surges.
Across the water in Hainan, authorities wasted no time. All flights to and from Haikou’s Meilan International Airport were scheduled to be canceled from 11:00 p.m. on October 4, as reported by state media outlet Xinhua and confirmed by Hainan Airport Group. The airport had been bracing for a rush of more than 632,000 passengers between October 1 and 8, but the storm’s arrival put an abrupt halt to those plans. A screen of canceled flights at the airport painted a stark picture of the disruption, as seen in images published by AFP.
It wasn’t just air travel that ground to a halt. The Maritime Safety Bureau in Sanya, Hainan’s famed resort city, announced that all tourist ships and ferries would be prohibited from operating in its jurisdiction starting at 6:00 p.m. on October 4. Many rail services were also canceled, and fishing boats were ordered back to port as heavy rains and strong winds threatened to trigger flash floods and landslides. The National Meteorological Centre (NMC) warned that Matmo was likely to bring winds of up to 45 meters per second (about 160 kilometers per hour) before making landfall and gradually weakening.
Haikou, the provincial capital, took further precautions. City officials planned to suspend schools, public transport, and construction from Saturday afternoon, with businesses ordered closed as well. According to Xinhua, "Haikou planned to halt all schools, work and transport from Saturday afternoon to Sunday." Guangdong’s port city of Zhanjiang followed suit, announcing similar shutdowns starting on October 4. The emergency response levels were raised in both Hainan and Guangdong provinces, reflecting the seriousness of the threat.
Adding to the sense of urgency, the Hong Kong Observatory raised its tropical cyclone warning signal to Strong Wind Signal No. 3 at noon on October 4. The city had already issued a record 12 tropical cyclone warning signals in 2025, the most since 1946—a statistic that underscored the unusual intensity of this year’s typhoon season. The Observatory said it would assess the need for higher signals as the situation evolved.
For many, the storm’s arrival couldn’t have come at a worse time. The eight-day holiday, which began with China’s National Day on October 1, is typically a period of celebration and travel. This year, the daily average of trips was forecast to rise by 3.2% compared to last year, as families and tourists flocked to destinations across the country. Haikou had lined up nearly 150 cultural events and more than 10 sports competitions, while Sanya had planned 170 art and tourism activities, according to Hainan’s official social media channels. All these festivities were now in jeopardy.
State media CCTV, citing meteorological experts, urged the public to stay vigilant. “Matmo will have a serious impact on tourism and transportation during a busy period for travel,” the outlet reported, emphasizing the need for caution as the typhoon’s path remained unpredictable. Downpours were also forecast for Yunnan province and the Guangxi region, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides far beyond the immediate coastal areas.
Typhoon Matmo’s approach set off a cascade of logistical headaches. Airlines scrambled to accommodate stranded passengers, and train operators faced the daunting task of rerouting or refunding tickets for canceled services. The closure of Meilan International Airport alone affected hundreds of thousands of travelers, many of whom had planned their trips months in advance. The disruption was palpable, with families and tour groups stuck in limbo as the storm drew closer.
Local businesses, too, braced for losses. The forced closure of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues during what should have been a lucrative holiday week hit hard, particularly in tourist-dependent cities like Sanya and Haikou. Organizers of cultural and sporting events were left scrambling to reschedule or cancel, with little clarity on when normalcy might return.
Yet, amid the chaos, there were reminders of the resilience that communities in southern China have developed in the face of recurring typhoons. Emergency shelters were readied, and rescue teams stood by to respond to flooding or landslides. Authorities used social media and state television to keep residents informed, urging everyone to heed evacuation orders and stay indoors as the storm made landfall.
By Sunday morning, as Matmo’s eye bore down on the coast, the full extent of the storm’s impact remained to be seen. But one thing was clear: for millions of travelers and residents across Hainan, Guangdong, and neighboring regions, this National Day holiday would be one for the history books—not for the festivities, but for the ferocity of the weather and the sweeping precautions that kept people safe.
As the winds howled and rain battered the southern provinces, the story of Typhoon Matmo served as a potent reminder of nature’s power and the importance of preparedness, especially in a nation on the move.
