China witnessed a significant surge in travel activities over the 2025 Qingming Festival holiday, as residents embraced traditional customs and spring tourism. Pent-up demand and a growing interest in cultural experiences fueled a nationwide travel boom.
According to official estimates, the average daily traffic volume on the country’s expressways reached approximately 59 million vehicles, marking a 1.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Notably, new energy vehicles accounted for around 18% of the total daily traffic, highlighting a shift toward eco-friendly travel options.
The railway network also experienced a remarkable uptick. On Sunday alone, the national railway system was expected to handle 20 million passenger trips as travelers concluded their holiday journeys. To accommodate the surge in demand, authorities scheduled an additional 1,214 trains.
Online travel platforms reported a 136% week-on-week increase in bookings for short-distance trips during the holiday. Springtime activities like flower viewing and mountain climbing proved especially popular. Flower tours saw a 55% rise in bookings compared to the previous week, signaling a strong seasonal interest.
Tourist attractions across the country recorded high footfall. On the first day of the holiday, the Huangshan Scenic Area in Anhui Province welcomed 233,100 visitors, a 54.04% year-on-year increase.
Interest in traditional Qingming customs also saw a resurgence. Data from a Suzhou-based online travel agency indicated that searches related to traditional cultural and folk experiences rose by 75% year-on-year. Beijing, Nanjing, Xi’an, Chongqing, and Suzhou emerged as top destinations for those seeking to engage with China’s rich historical and cultural heritage.
The Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falling on April 4 this year, is a traditional Chinese festival for people to pay tribute to their ancestors. The holiday also provides a short break for people to enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing, heralding the arrival of spring.
