VI
EN
Starting on February 2nd, the wave of travel in this populous nation is predicted to create a historic tourism "storm," with the total number of inter-regional trips expected to reach an unprecedented record of 9.5 billion. According to analysts at Xinhua News Agency, this astonishing surge stems from the demand for leisure travel in the context of this year's Lunar New Year holiday being longer than usual, spanning from February 15th to February 23rd.
The surge in train ticket demand is the first and clearest evidence of the intense demand for the upcoming 9-day holiday. On February 1st, the official date for the first day of the holiday, when tickets officially went on sale 15 days in advance, the national booking system experienced localized overload. Data from the official booking platform showed that train tickets from Beijing to key domestic destinations "vanished" within minutes of going on sale. Major railway lines connecting Beijing with Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, and Xi'an were almost completely full, forcing booking apps to switch to a waiting list mode, which was also immediately full.
Analysts predict the 2026 spring travel season will set a new record with approximately 9.5 billion trips made across China's entire transportation network.
Statistics show that this year's Lunar New Year travel peak will last 40 days, from February 2nd to March 13th. During this period, the railway sector alone is expected to serve approximately 539 million passengers nationwide, recording a 5% increase compared to the same period last year. These telling figures not only reflect the increased travel demand but also demonstrate the strong recovery and vitality of the Chinese consumer market after the previous fluctuations.
The number of passengers booking airline tickets surged by over 35% as young people invited their parents to the city to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) instead of returning to their hometowns as traditionally done.
In 2026, Chinese youth are experiencing a significant shift in travel trends. Instead of participating in the stressful race to get tickets to return to their hometowns, a large segment of young people in major cities are opting for a "reverse reunion." According to Global Times, the trend of inviting parents from their hometowns to the city to celebrate the Lunar New Year is becoming more popular than ever. Capitalizing on this sentiment, major hotel chains in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen have quickly launched special "Reunion New Year" packages, including traditional year-end parties, cultural activities to celebrate the start of the new year, and professional family photography services to capture memorable moments.
This trend is also reflected in aviation data. Qunar, China's leading flight booking app, reported that the number of airline tickets booked by passengers aged 60 and over during this Lunar New Year holiday increased by more than 35% compared to the same period last year. This suggests that parents are also more open to traveling long distances to enjoy the holiday with their children in a new and more convenient way at modern service centers.
The nine-day holiday also acted as a catalyst, driving exceptional growth in the long-haul and outbound tourism segments. With ample time, many Chinese tourists were willing to spend generously on transcontinental trips. Tours to the North to hunt for the aurora borealis in Norway or flights to the Southern Hemisphere to enjoy the vibrant summer in New Zealand became some of the hottest search terms. However, despite the diversity of distant destinations, the Southeast Asian and East Asian tourism markets remained the mainstays thanks to their core competitive advantages.
The "sold out" situation, occurring just minutes after tickets went on sale on online platforms like Qunar, reflects the surge in demand for long-distance travel during this historic holiday.
According to a report from Travel Daily, Vietnam, along with Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore, continues to be among the most popular international destinations for Chinese tourists during the 2026 Lunar New Year. Its proximity, short flight times, increasingly relaxed visa policies, and reasonable service costs are key factors that make this region a preferred choice for couples and families. In particular, Vietnam's diverse landscapes, from the northern mountains to the central beaches, and the development of experiential tourism products such as therapeutic hair treatments and ecotourism, are strongly attracting high-end Chinese tourists.
Besides travel, China's domestic tourism market is equally vibrant with large-scale light festivals and cultural events. In Sichuan and other central provinces, the International Lantern Festival and light art exhibitions have begun attracting huge numbers of visitors. These are essential entertainment activities that help connect communities and honor traditional values in modern life. Economic experts believe that this historical tourism "storm" not only has cultural significance but also provides a huge boost to the service, hotel, and retail industries, contributing to a promising start for the Chinese economy in 2026.
