China’s New Year Holiday Delivers First Major Travel and Consumption Peak of 2026

Beijing — The 2026 New Year holiday has brought the first major travel and consumption surge of the year in China. According to data from transport authorities and travel service platforms, the significant increase in passenger flows and rising tourism spending reflects a steady release of demand and the resilience of the Chinese economy at the start of the year.

Analysts say the robust performance during the New Year holiday highlights the underlying vitality and adaptability of the Chinese economy. They conclude that domestic demand continues to recover amid sustained policy support.

The 2026 New Year holiday, the first three-day public break of the year, is being observed from Thursday to Saturday. The concentrated nature of this short holiday has intensified nationwide travel and tourism activities.

According to the China News Service, an estimated 3.7 million passenger trips were handled by railways in the Yangtze River Delta region on Thursday alone. This is the highest passenger volume recorded in the region during the New Year period and also marks the “peak day” for rail travel in 2026.

In South China, the China Railway Guangzhou Group also projected Thursday as the peak travel day during the holiday period. Data shows that an estimated 2.792 million passenger trips were expected, a 16.4% increase compared to the same period last year.

Data provided by the travel service platform Qunar indicates that travel demand this year far exceeds levels seen in previous years. Flight bookings to popular destinations rose by 26%.

According to another service provider, Tongcheng, domestic hotel bookings have more than tripled compared to the same period last year. This growth is attributed to a combination of leisure travel, family reunions, and New Year celebrations.

Several policy developments before the holiday also boosted travel enthusiasm. The launch of island-wide independent customs operations at the Hainan Free Trade Port and the opening of the Shenyang–Baishan high-speed railway have attracted tourists to both southern and northern destinations.

According to Qunar data, flights to Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province, were among the top 10 domestic destinations on Thursday. Demand for self-drive trips in Haikou and Sanya surged by 81% and 96%, respectively, ranking first and second nationwide.

International travel also saw notable growth. International flight bookings to Haikou and Sanya increased more than threefold and fivefold, respectively, marking the fastest growth nationwide. Many international tourists have chosen to spend the New Year holiday on China’s island destinations.

According to Qunar, inbound flight bookings increased by more than 20%. The main source countries included Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, and the United States.

Outbound travel also grew significantly. On Thursday, the number of travelers heading to popular international destinations increased by more than 40% compared to the previous year.

According to projections from the National Immigration Administration, the average daily volume of inbound and outbound passenger movements nationwide during the holiday period is expected to exceed 2.1 million, representing a 22.4% year-on-year increase.

This travel boom has been supported by sustained policy efforts. China has further refined its entry-exit and immigration policies, allowing travelers from 55 countries to stay visa-free for up to 10 days. The aim is to facilitate cross-border travel and promote higher-level openness.

Song Ding, a researcher at the China Development Institute, stated, “Travel growth during the New Year holiday may be seasonal, but this year’s holiday holds special significance.” He added that the effects of policies implemented last year to stabilize consumption and expand domestic demand are expected to become more apparent in 2026.

He further noted, “With the scope of visa-free policies continuing to expand, both inbound and outbound travel are increasing, providing strong support for tourism, service consumption, and related industries.”