BUSINESS

Long-Haul Domestic Trips Gain Favor Among Chinese Holiday Travelers

Published: May. 7, 2026 1:44 p.m. GMT+8

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Children run in a field in Zibo, Shandong province, on April 29. Photo: VCG

Chinese travelers ventured significantly farther from home during the recent Labor Day holiday, which coincided with spring breaks at many schools, fueling double-digit growth in long-haul domestic trips.

The number of cross-provincial tourists recorded on major travel platforms rose 7.6% year-on-year during the holiday period from May 1 to Tuesday, while the number of travelers journeying more than 800 kilometers surged 20%, driving an 18% increase in related hotel accommodation spending, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

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Chinese Labor Day holiday (May 1-Tue) saw cross-provincial tourists +7.6% YoY, >800km trips +20%, hotel spending +18%; Didi avg 612km, >3,000km orders +34%.
NW/SW regions boomed (Sichuan/Yunnan/Xinjiang bookings +80%/70%/90%); experience trips (concerts/theme parks) drove hotel surges e.g. Zhengzhou +214%, Legoland +172%.
Cross-border trips 11.3M (+3.5%); inbound 1.3M (+12.5%), visa-free 436k (+14.7%); Thailand top outbound, South Korea +73%.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Didi Global Inc.: Didi Global Inc. data showed out-of-town users traveled an average of 612 km from home during the Labor Day holiday, with orders for trips beyond 3,000 km surging 34%.

Qunar.com Inc.: Qunar.com Inc. reported that the Labor Day holiday overlapping with school breaks drove demand for longer domestic trips. Its data showed hotel bookings near Zhengzhou Olympic Sports Center up 214%, Legoland Shanghai Resort 172%, and Changbai Mountain parks 177%. Qunar also noted a 73% surge in South Korea outbound bookings and 367% jump in Turkish domestic flight bookings.

Tongcheng Travel Holdings Ltd.: Tongcheng Travel Holdings Ltd. reported that the Labor Day holiday overlapping with school breaks drove demand for longer domestic trips, with rising international airfares making them more cost-effective. On its platform, bookings for Sichuan, Yunnan, and Xinjiang routes rose nearly 80%, over 70%, and nearly 90% year-on-year, respectively.

AI generated, for reference only