China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced that 126 million citizens traveled during the three-day Qingming Festival, which started on April 4th. This was not just a time for honoring deceased loved ones but also a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful spring weather before the heat of summer.

Traveler numbers represented a 6.3% increase year-on-year, and spending reached $7.9 billion, which increased by 6.7%.

Popular Destinations and Trends

The report highlighted that Shanghai and the areas surrounding the Yangtze Delta ranked as some of the top holiday destinations this year. In a surprising twist, winter tourism favorite Harbin also attracted many visitors during the Qingming holiday.

The report from the National Immigration Administration indicated that 6.21 million travelers entered or exited China during the holiday, reflecting a 19.7% increase compared to the previous year.

Authorities indicated that the travel sector in China is thriving, notably amongst older generations and families. However, younger generations, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, preferred traveling abroad for the festival, with destinations like Japan for cherry blossom viewing and visa-free Jeju Island in South Korea gaining immense popularity thanks to the K-drama When Life Gives You Tangerines.