WATCH: Why did a 36-hour nightmarish traffic jam happen in China? Lessons world would want to learn

Millions of Chinese travellers faced a colossal traffic jam in Anhui province as they returned home after an eight-day holiday combining National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival. China’s largest toll plaza, Wuzhuang, with 36 lanes, was overwhelmed, creating a ‘river of red lights’ visible in viral videos. The ‘free passage’ policy and a confluence of factors contributed to the unprecedented gridlock.