Chongqing - As the New Year holiday approaches, travel demand across China is surging, with Chongqing emerging as one of the country’s top destinations for ringing in 2026.
According to Meituan Travel, as of December 21, New Year holiday bookings for culture and tourism in Chongqing had more than doubled year on year, with a growth rate of 102%. The city now ranks fourth nationwide among the most popular New Year's getaway destinations.
Visitors from cities such as Chengdu, Beijing, Xi’an, Guangzhou, and Wuhan are increasingly choosing Chongqing to celebrate the year’s turn. Popular online searches include phrases such as “Chongqing New Year homestays where you can cook hotpot with river views” and “Chongqing hotels with countdown views,” highlighting travelers’ appetite for immersive, experience-driven stays.
Residents and visitors celebrate the New Year and welcome 2025 at Jiefangbei in Chongqing. (Photo/Yuzhong District)
New Year’s Eve celebrations are becoming increasingly diverse, with fireworks displays leading the trend. Since mid-December, searches for the “Changshou Lake New Year Fireworks Show in Chongqing” have jumped by more than 600% month on month, Meituan Travel data show. Nationwide, travelers from cities including Shanghai, Changsha, Suzhou, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou have been actively searching for New Year fireworks events.
Other festive experiences are also gaining traction. Searches for sky lantern releases surged among users in Shanghai, Langfang, Wuxi, Chongqing, and Wuhan, while drone light shows proved popular in Chongqing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xi’an.
Night cruises have become another sought-after way to welcome the New Year. In Guangzhou, New Year’s Eve river cruises offering views of the city’s iconic Canton Tower countdown light show have gone on sale, allowing passengers to celebrate the moment on board. Since mid-December, searches for Pearl River night cruise tickets have risen by 169%.
Meanwhile, star-studded New Year concerts are boosting tourism in smaller cities. Places such as Jiangyin in Jiangsu Province and Yueqing in Zhejiang Province have seen a notable rise in travel interest driven by headline performances.
For travelers eager to greet the first sunrise of the new year, mountaintop stays are in high demand. Meituan Travel reports that searches for “New Year hotels” have climbed 189% year on year since mid-December, with strong growth in demand for villa-style rooms, properties equipped with home-theater systems, and accommodations featuring large round tables symbolizing reunion.
Mountaintop hotels at destinations such as Huangshan Mountain, Laojun Mountain, Lushan Mountain, Taishan Mountain and Emeishan Mountain are particularly popular. Searches for “Huangshan summit accommodation” surged 397% year on year, and rooms at some peak-top hotels were sold out weeks in advance for New Year’s Eve.
Island destinations are also benefiting from the “first-light” travel trend. Searches related to Dongji Island—including homestays, ferry tickets and sea fishing—have all more than doubled, especially among travelers from Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Ningbo. The combination of ocean scenery and New Year celebrations is turning coastal getaways into a new growth point.
New Year homestay bookings nationwide are also on the rise. In the first week of December alone, bookings for 2026 New Year stays jumped nearly 145% year on year. Harbin, Guangzhou, Nanning, Qingdao, Zhengzhou and Wuhan were among the most popular cities. At the same time, searches for ice-and-snow destinations increased steadily, with Harbin, Beijing, Shenyang, Changchun and Urumqi ranking among the top choices.
This photo, taken on January 14, 2025, shows a view of Xiling Mountain snow resort in Dayi County, Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo/Liu Kun, Xinhua)
In western Sichuan, where snow-capped peaks are within a four-hour travel radius, demand has climbed sharply. Searches for hotels near Xiling Snow Mountain, Dagu Glacier, and Siguniang Mountain rose by more than 100%, while small-group tours and even “western Sichuan wedding photography” saw notable growth.
Historic towns are also attracting young travelers seeking a blend of tradition and modern celebration. In the run-up to the holiday, searches surged for destinations such as Nanxun in Zhejiang, Chikan in Guangdong, Zhouzhuang in Jiangsu, and Xinchang Ancient Town in Sichuan, where fireworks shows and concerts create a festive atmosphere amid centuries-old settings.
Meituan Travel said it has launched a New Year promotion offering discounts and bundled “stay-and-ski” packages to provide more convenient, one-stop travel options. The platform will also roll out service assurance initiatives in key cities, working with hotels, homestays, attractions, airlines, and travel agencies to ensure smooth and reliable holiday experiences—helping travelers start 2026 with a memorable journey.
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