In Depth: China’s Travelers Return, but Their Spending Stays Home

A record number of travelers swarmed China’s train stations and airports over the summer, yet this surge in traffic concealed a now-familiar post-pandemic paradox: while the crowds returned, their spending did not.

In July and August, a record 943 million passenger trips were taken on China’s railways, up 4.7% year-on-year, according to China State Railway Group Co. Ltd. The civil aviation authority reported a total of 147 million trips, setting an all-time daily record of nearly 2.6 million on Aug. 15.