BUSINESS

China Lunar New Year Tourism Spending Hits Record $116 Billion

Published: Feb. 25, 2026 12:39 a.m. GMT+8

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A dragon dance performance attracts crowds in Chenghai district, Shantou, in South China’s Guangdong province, on Feb. 20, 2026. Photo: VCG

China’s domestic travel and tourism spending climbed to record levels during the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, as an extended nine-day break fueled a surge in cross-regional mobility.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Tuesday that domestic trips totaled 596 million, up 95 million from the eight-day holiday in 2025.

While the headline figure points to strong travel demand, the underlying data reflect more cautious consumer behavior. Total domestic tourism spending reached 803.5 billion yuan ($116.3 billion), an increase of 126.5 billion yuan from a year earlier. Average spending per trip, however, fell to about 150 yuan from roughly 169 yuan during the 2025 holiday, indicating that although more people are traveling, individual outlays have tightened.

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China’s 2026 Spring Festival saw domestic trips rise to 596 million (+95 million year-on-year) and spending reach 803.5 billion yuan, but per-trip spending fell from 169 to 150 yuan.
Older travelers and “reverse travel” trends increased, while cultural tourism and traditional events boosted local tourism; international travel rebounded, with Thailand as top outbound destination.
Expanded visa-waiver policies drove a 14.1% rise in inbound travel and significant increases in bookings from Canada (+75%) and the U.K. (+37%).

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s online travel arm, Fliggy, reported record-high domestic bookings during China's 2026 Spring Festival. Hotel room nights saw a 75% year-on-year increase, and package deals combining theme parks or attractions with lodging surged by 140%. Fliggy accounts for under 10% of the market by gross merchandise volume.

Didi Global Inc.: Didi Global Inc. is a ride-hailing company. During the 2026 Spring Festival, Didi Global Inc. reported a 45% year-on-year increase in daily ride orders placed by users aged 55 and above in first-tier and new first-tier cities. This data highlights a trend of "reverse travel" during the holiday period.

Qunar: Qunar is an online travel platform. During the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, hotel bookings in major cities by travelers aged 60 and above increased by 56% on Qunar. Flight bookings to Italy also nearly tripled from the previous year, with Milan, Rome, and Venice being popular destinations.

Meituan: Meituan is mentioned as a platform where searches for "intangible cultural heritage" and "folk customs" rose sharply. This indicates that Meituan was used by people to explore cultural tourism options during the 2026 Spring Festival holiday in China.

Tongcheng Travel: Tongcheng Travel identified Shantou, Fuzhou, and Beijing as top destinations for travelers seeking a traditional holiday atmosphere during the 2026 Spring Festival.

Trip.com: After China implemented visa-free entry for Canadian and UK ordinary passport holders, Trip.com (携程) saw a significant increase in inbound bookings. Bookings from Canada surged by 75% and from the UK by 37%. The platform also noted a 12% rise in visitors staying in China for over seven days, indicating longer average stays.

AI generated, for reference only