As the three-day New Year holiday (Jan 1–3, 2026) wrapped up on Saturday, January 3, the Chinese mainland witnessed a travel and spending boom. Official data shows 142 million domestic trips and 84.8 billion yuan ($12.1 billion) in tourism spending.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, winter-themed tours, sun-seeking escapes, and short-distance adventures topped the charts. Whether you’re a snow bunny ❄️ or a sun chaser ☀️, there was something for everyone!
Railways were buzzing, too. China State Railway Group reported 48.09 million passenger trips over the holiday, with New Year’s Day alone seeing about 18.56 million travelers hopping on trains 🚄✨.
Cross-border trips soared—up 28.6% year-on-year to 6.61 million, according to the National Immigration Administration. Inbound visitors climbed 29.8% to 828,000, including 292,000 enjoying visa-free entry (a 35.8% jump). Visa-free policies and faster tax refunds are becoming fresh engines for consumption growth in the Chinese mainland’s tourism sector 🌍🚀.
For travelers planning their next getaway, entrepreneurs scouting market vibes, and students analyzing trends, these figures offer juicy insights. Will winter tours stay chill-hot? Will sun seekers keep flocking to warmer shores? Time will tell 👀👍.
Reference(s):
China's New Year holiday consumption market posts strong numbers
cgtn.com
