China’s Qingming Festival holiday witnessed a remarkable surge in domestic tourism and consumer spending, signaling a robust revival of the nation’s ‘spring economy’.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, over 126 million domestic trips were made during the three-day holiday, marking a 6.3% increase compared to last year. Domestic travel expenditure reached 57.55 billion yuan (approximately $7.9 billion), up 6.7% year-on-year.
Chinese ride-hailing giant DiDi Chuxing reported a 14% year-on-year increase in taxi demand, with peak periods exceeding 110,000 orders per minute. Meanwhile, the National Immigration Administration noted 6.21 million cross-border trips, a 19.7% rise, with trips made by foreigners up 39.5%.
Embracing Local Adventures
Short trips and local tours became the go-to choice for many travelers. Online platforms revealed a 136% spike in nearby tour bookings, with over 70% of tourists opting for trips under three days and 44% choosing to travel by car.
Blooming ‘Spring Economy’
The holiday period saw new consumption trends offering fresh experiences. Flower appreciation, outdoor activities, and sports boomed, energizing the ‘spring economy’. Searches related to “flower viewing” more than doubled compared to the same period last year.
In southwest China’s Sichuan Province, helicopter tours allowed tourists to admire blooming landscapes from the skies. Shanghai’s cherry blossom festival enchanted visitors with nighttime blossoms, traditional cultural activities, and displays of intangible cultural heritage, becoming a must-visit attraction.
Camping Fever Sweeps the Nation
Thanks to favorable weather, outdoor camping sites were a hit. In Wuyi County, east China’s Zhejiang Province, tourists flocked to camping bases offering meditation, boat rowing, and movie nights. A representative noted daily visitors reached up to 6,000 during the holiday peak.
The camping craze also boosted the outdoor leisure industry. “Compared with last year, our order volume has increased by about 20 to 30%, and we’re booked until May,” said Wang Xueming, director of a leisure product company in Zhejiang.
Shen Jiani, a senior researcher at the Ctrip Research Institute, remarked, “New consumption frontiers are breaking boundaries and injecting new vitality into the cultural and tourism market.”
