Record Spring Festival Travel in China 2026

Colorful travel routes across a vibrant map of China.

During the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, China witnessed an impressive surge in domestic tourism, with a record 596 million trips taken across the nation. This remarkable increase of 95 million trips compared to the previous year demonstrates the vigorous comeback of the travel sector in spite of prior challenges.

Organized by the cultural and tourism system under the theme "Celebrate the New Year with Joy," various activities were designed to ensure a safe and orderly experience for travelers. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's data center, not only did the number of trips escalate, but domestic tourism spending also soared to 803.483 billion yuan, marking an annual increase of 126.481 billion yuan.

The festive season was further enriched by a diverse range of cultural activities celebrating the spirit of the New Year. Highlights included the non-material cultural heritage activities that attracted significant public interest, particularly the events themed "Heritage Celebrates the New Year: Experiencing the Chinese New Year." The 2026 Non-Material Heritage Gala achieved leading viewership, showcasing the popularity of artistic performances linked to traditional festivities.

Cultural venues across provinces such as Zhejiang, Liaoning, and Ningxia embraced the New Year spirit with hundreds of themed exhibitions and experiential activities, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in China's rich traditions. To stimulate cultural and tourism consumption further, various regions introduced consumption vouchers and special subsidies, fostering a lively market atmosphere.

Chongqing, for instance, launched over 1,300 cultural and tourism initiatives, distributing 50 million yuan in travel subsidies, while Fujian saw over 4,300 activities and 560 preferential policies rolled out. These measures contributed to invigorating the cultural and tourism landscape throughout the country.

Nightlife thrived during this festive period, particularly in cultural districts like the ancient city of Luoyang and the May Day shopping area in Changsha. The integration of technology into cultural experiences was a noteworthy trend this year, as demonstrated by the Quanzhou Lantern Festival that combined traditional lantern displays with innovative digital shadow technology.

Additionally, ice and snow tourism saw an impressive rise, particularly in Harbin, where a "New Year Ice and Snow Feast" showcased enchanting ice sculptures and dynamic light shows. Rural tourism also gained popularity, allowing visitors to experience the beauty of local customs and pastoral settings.

The influence of film and television continues to shape cultural tourism, inspiring themed tours and exhibitions based on popular dramas, thus creating new interests and opportunities within the tourism sector.