Travel Surge in China During the 2025 Qingming Festival
Record traffic and tourism highlight a significant revival in domestic travel over the Qingming holiday in China.
China experienced an extensive increase in travel activities during the 2025 Qingming Festival, reflecting a strong resurgence in domestic tourism spurred by pent-up demand and heightened interest in traditional cultural practices.
Official estimates indicate that the average daily traffic volume on expressways reached around 59 million vehicles, marking a 1.1 percent increase from the previous year.
Notably, new energy vehicles accounted for approximately 18 percent of the total daily traffic, underscoring a growing trend toward eco-friendly travel options.
The rail transport sector also noted substantial growth, with the national railway network expected to accommodate 20 million passenger trips on the last day of the holiday alone.
To meet the surge in demand, railway authorities scheduled an additional 1,214 trains.
Online travel platforms reported a 136 percent week-on-week increase in bookings for short-distance trips during the holiday.
Popular activities included flower viewing and mountain climbing, with flower tour bookings alone seeing a 55 percent rise compared to the prior week, highlighting seasonal tourism trends.
Tourist attractions nationwide recorded significant visitor numbers.
For instance, the Huangshan Scenic Area in Anhui Province welcomed 233,100 visitors on the first day of the holiday, reflecting a 54.04 percent increase year-on-year.
Cultural engagement increased, with a 75 percent rise in searches related to traditional Qingming customs and folk experiences, according to data from Tongcheng Travel, a travel agency based in Suzhou.
Major cities such as Beijing, Nanjing, Xi'an, Chongqing, and Suzhou emerged as top destinations for travelers seeking to explore China's rich historical and cultural heritage.
The Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, which fell on April 4 this year, is a traditional Chinese holiday where people honor their ancestors and pay tribute to the deceased.
The holiday also provides an opportunity for the public to engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing, reinforcing the significance of this cultural observance in contemporary Chinese society.
Official estimates indicate that the average daily traffic volume on expressways reached around 59 million vehicles, marking a 1.1 percent increase from the previous year.
Notably, new energy vehicles accounted for approximately 18 percent of the total daily traffic, underscoring a growing trend toward eco-friendly travel options.
The rail transport sector also noted substantial growth, with the national railway network expected to accommodate 20 million passenger trips on the last day of the holiday alone.
To meet the surge in demand, railway authorities scheduled an additional 1,214 trains.
Online travel platforms reported a 136 percent week-on-week increase in bookings for short-distance trips during the holiday.
Popular activities included flower viewing and mountain climbing, with flower tour bookings alone seeing a 55 percent rise compared to the prior week, highlighting seasonal tourism trends.
Tourist attractions nationwide recorded significant visitor numbers.
For instance, the Huangshan Scenic Area in Anhui Province welcomed 233,100 visitors on the first day of the holiday, reflecting a 54.04 percent increase year-on-year.
Cultural engagement increased, with a 75 percent rise in searches related to traditional Qingming customs and folk experiences, according to data from Tongcheng Travel, a travel agency based in Suzhou.
Major cities such as Beijing, Nanjing, Xi'an, Chongqing, and Suzhou emerged as top destinations for travelers seeking to explore China's rich historical and cultural heritage.
The Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, which fell on April 4 this year, is a traditional Chinese holiday where people honor their ancestors and pay tribute to the deceased.
The holiday also provides an opportunity for the public to engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing, reinforcing the significance of this cultural observance in contemporary Chinese society.
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