Chongqing—This year, the Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, spans a three-day holiday from April 4 to 6, catalyzing a significant increase in spring travel within China's tourism sector. Data from Tujia Guesthouse as of March 25 indicates a notable surge in guesthouse bookings in popular cities during this period, with a 3.4-fold increase from the previous year.
Chongqing's iconic Hongyadong draws many visitors who are eager to capture its stunning vistas in photographs. (Photo/Yin Shiyu from Visual Chongqing)
Culinary exploration has emerged as a key travel motivator this spring, with food enthusiasts flocking to cities renowned for their local cuisines. Gansu Province's Tianshui malatang, similar to Northern China's hotpot, has become a culinary sensation, significantly boosting tourism. Tujia Guesthouse reports a dramatic 50-fold increase in bookings for Tianshui accommodations, predominantly driven by the younger post-90s and post-00s generations.
As for the upcoming festival, Chongqing also attracts tourists with its culinary delights, where guesthouse bookings have quadrupled compared to the previous year, far exceeding the national average.
Chongqing hot pot. (Photo/Li Xinyi)
Flower appreciation continues as a popular festival activity, with a 350% spike in related searches on the platform. Destinations like Luoyang, famous for its peonies, and Chongqing's vast rapeseed fields, draw visitors seeking natural beauty.
In Fuling District's Linshi Town, the rapeseed fields offer a stunning golden landscape, attracting a multitude of visitors. Whether it's walking through the fields, capturing their beauty in photographs, or enjoying an aerial view from Meixin Wine Town's cableway, there are various ways to enjoy the season's charm. Tongnan District's Chongkan Town has also emerged as a floral hotspot, with accessible transport options enhancing the visitor experience among the blooming rapeseed.
Tongnan District's Chongkan Town blossoms as a floral haven, offering diverse transport options for a captivating rapeseed bloom experience. (Photo/Tongnan District)
Tujia Guesthouse's latest figures highlight the top spring outing cities, with Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai, Dali, Beijing, Wuhan, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Changsha, and Hangzhou leading the pack. These cities showcase the vibrant and evolving landscape of China's domestic tourism during the enchanting spring season.
(Han Bing, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)