Surge in Domestic Tourism for 2026 Qingming Festival

Blossoming landscape with travel symbols and landmarks.

During the Qingming Festival holiday in 2026, a remarkable 135 million domestic trips were made across China. According to the Data Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, this three-day holiday witnessed a year-on-year increase of 6.8% in domestic travel, culminating in total tourism spending of 61.367 billion yuan, which represented a growth of 6.6% compared to the previous year.

As a time dedicated to honoring ancestors and remembering martyrs, the holiday encouraged many to participate in meaningful activities such as flower offerings and moments of silence at martyr cemeteries, historic memorial sites, and red tourism attractions that experienced a spike in visitors. In a progressive move, various regions promoted eco-friendly commemorative practices through initiatives like "cloud memorials" and "online flower offerings," showcasing a blend of tradition and modernity.

Furthermore, many areas aligned their commemorative activities with patriotic education by hosting red-themed events in renowned locations such as Guyuan in Ningxia, Jinggangshan in Jiangxi, and Zunyi in Guizhou, fostering a deeper sense of national pride among participants.

This Qingming Festival also saw a blossoming appreciation for flowers and spring outings, which have become intricately linked to cultural and tourism consumption. Cities have been proactive in developing garden spaces and urban parks to enhance the visitor experience. Notable events during this time included the Wudadao Crabapple Flower Festival in Tianjin and over 200 spring tourism initiatives launched in Chongqing, while Shaanxi introduced 159 policies aimed at benefiting local residents through cultural tourism.

The combination of floral appreciation entwined with national culture, coupled with vibrant nighttime tourism activities, has energized the economy. The holiday atmosphere was further enriched by a plethora of concerts and music festivals that stimulated local tourism consumption. The nighttime cultural and tourism economy displayed stable growth, with national-level cultural and tourism consumption centers welcoming a total of 45.4854 million nighttime visitors.