Typhoon Bavi Triggers Travel Chaos in China and Taiwan

Typhoon Bavi has disrupted peak summer travel across eastern China and Taiwan, prompting mass evacuations, widespread flight cancellations, and transport shutdowns as the powerful storm sweeps through the East China Sea corridor.

Storm Track Brings Days of Disruption Across the Taiwan Strait

Publicly available meteorological data shows that Typhoon Bavi intensified over the western Pacific before passing near northeastern Taiwan on Saturday, July 11, 2026, then moving toward the coast of eastern China. Forecasts had indicated a track skirting north of Taiwan before making landfall in either Fujian or Zhejiang province, a path that placed some of the region’s busiest air and sea corridors directly in the storm’s influence.

As Bavi neared Taiwan, sea and land warnings were issued ahead of a period of strong winds and torrential rainfall. Reports indicate that the storm brought rough seas around the island and across the East China Sea, leading to precautionary shutdowns of ferry routes and coastal services. Although the system’s center stayed offshore, outer rainbands and gale force winds were enough to cause notable transport and tourism disruption.

By late Saturday, the typhoon moved into waters north of Taiwan and then made landfall along China’s eastern seaboard, weakening as it tracked inland but leaving behind several days of heavy rain, localized flooding, and continued travel uncertainty for residents and visitors.

The wider region had already been dealing with saturated ground from earlier seasonal rains, and Bavi’s arrival compounded concerns around flash flooding, landslides in hilly coastal terrain, and the safety of low-lying resort belts popular with both domestic and international travelers.

Flights Canceled at Major Taiwanese Gateways

Air travel in Taiwan faced some of the earliest and most visible impacts. According to Taiwan-based media coverage, airlines began preemptively adjusting schedules as early as Wednesday, July 8, canceling a growing number of services for the days immediately before Bavi’s closest approach. Carriers warned passengers to expect rolling changes while the typhoon’s path and intensity were refined.

Published airport figures show that more than 400 flights were canceled across Taiwan on Friday, building to around 760 cancellations at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport alone by Saturday. Key international services and a large portion of regional connections were grounded, including many departures to and from East Asian hubs, as operators sought to keep aircraft and crews clear of the strongest winds.

Operations at Taipei Songshan Airport and Taichung were also heavily curtailed, with only a handful of flights attempting to operate in peripheral time windows outside the worst of the weather. Travelers already in transit encountered last-minute gate changes and extended waits in terminals as airlines tried to reroute passengers onto later services once the typhoon weakened.

Airlines based in Taiwan and on the Chinese mainland activated flexible rebooking policies, allowing itinerary changes without additional charges over a limited window. Public advisories encouraged passengers to rely on official apps and customer-service channels for live status updates rather than heading directly to the airport during the height of the storm.

Mass Evacuations and Coastal Closures in Eastern China

On the Chinese mainland, coastal provinces along the East China Sea initiated large-scale precautionary measures as Bavi approached. National and provincial emergency bulletins described the storm as one of the strongest of the current typhoon season to target eastern China, prompting upgraded response levels for both flood and typhoon control.

Local media in Zhejiang and Fujian reported the evacuation of more than one million residents and workers from vulnerable coastal zones, low-lying villages, and areas prone to landslides. Fishing fleets were ordered back to port, and operations at numerous seaside tourist areas, beachfront parks, and exposed scenic viewpoints were suspended ahead of the storm’s arrival.

Container terminals and bulk cargo facilities in several ports scaled back operations or temporarily closed selected berths, while some cruise and coastal passenger services were halted. Publicly available port notices highlighted the risk of high waves and storm surges along harbors and river mouths, with particular concern for sections where tidal conditions and heavy rainfall could combine.

When Bavi made landfall in Zhejiang late on Saturday, it had weakened from earlier super typhoon strength but still brought damaging wind gusts and intense rainfall. Power outages, toppled trees, and scattered building damage were reported in some urban districts, and inland rail services experienced delays as crews removed debris and inspected tracks.

Ferries, Islands, and Scenic Routes Cut Off

Bavi’s wide wind field caused extensive disruption to maritime links that are crucial for reaching smaller islands and coastal resorts. In Taiwan, ferries connecting the main island with outlying destinations such as Matsu, Kinmen, Penghu, Green Island, Orchid Island, and Xiaoliuqiu were suspended in stages as sea conditions deteriorated. Cross–Taiwan Strait passenger routes linking islands off Taiwan with ports in Fujian were also halted.

Tourism hot spots that depend on sea access, including diving locations and beach villages, saw visitor flows stop abruptly as services were suspended. Reports from local outlets noted that some attractions closed proactively even before official alerts reached their highest levels, reflecting a cautious stance shaped by previous typhoon seasons.

On the mainland side, coastal highways and scenic drives in eastern provinces faced intermittent closures due to high winds, fallen trees, and localized flooding. Popular oceanfront promenades and cycling paths around major cities were blocked off or patrolled to deter visitors from approaching seawalls during the peak of the storm.

The transport interruptions rippled through hospitality businesses, with hotels and guesthouses accommodating stranded travelers, while others recorded a wave of last-minute cancellations. In some areas, event organizers postponed festivals and outdoor gatherings scheduled for the same weekend, reshaping local tourism calendars at short notice.

What Travelers Need to Know for the Days Ahead

Although Bavi is weakening as it moves inland over eastern China, forecasters expect lingering instability, including periods of heavy rain and gusty winds, to continue across parts of the region in the days following landfall. This raises the possibility of additional short-notice disruptions to domestic flights, high-speed rail, and long-distance bus routes, particularly where flooding or landslides affect infrastructure.

Travel industry advisories recommend that visitors with plans in eastern China and Taiwan over the coming week monitor airline and railway announcements closely and keep a flexible itinerary. Even where airports are reopening and ferry services are restarting, backlogs from the large volume of canceled flights mean rebooking may take time, and some routes could remain reduced until aircraft and crews are repositioned.

For those heading to island destinations or coastal scenic areas, publicly available guidance emphasizes checking the status of ferry lines, marinas, and national parks before departure. Trails, beaches, and offshore excursions may stay closed for safety inspections or until sea conditions calm, despite clearer skies returning relatively quickly.

As the western Pacific typhoon season continues, Bavi’s impact serves as a reminder that summer travel across the Taiwan Strait, the Ryukyu island chain, and China’s eastern seaboard can be highly sensitive to rapid changes in tropical cyclone forecasts. Travelers planning trips in July and August are being encouraged to build extra flexibility into their schedules, consider routes with multiple alternatives, and remain attentive to local weather bulletins throughout their journeys.