China Sees Tourism Surge During 2026 National Day Holiday

The Government of China saw a significant surge in cultural and tourism activity during the 2026 National Day holiday, characterized by a shift toward longer, immersive travel experiences. Data from the Tuniu platform indicated that tours lasting 10 days or more accounted for 26 percent of bookings, a trend driven by the proximity of the Mid-Autumn Festival to the holiday break.

Travelers engaged in a diverse array of activities, ranging from visits to the Tsingtao Beer Museum in Qingdao and Slender West Lake in Yangzhou to rural tourism in art-themed destinations like Caijiagou. There was a notable increase in specialized travel, including tours of intangible cultural heritage and red tourism in revolutionary base areas. Yan'an reported a 20 percent increase in visitors marking the 90th anniversary of the Long March.

To stimulate economic activity, Shanghai deployed approximately 100 million yuan in consumer vouchers across 200 events. The holiday also featured the integration of humanoid robots in commercial districts, such as those in Chengdu, and a rise in inbound international tourism. The National Immigration Administration projected an average of 2.15 million passenger trips per day at border crossings during the period.