Chongqing - The traditionally low-key Qingming Festival travel period is seeing a surge in activity this year, as it coincides with spring breaks in several regions. The overlap has created a strong boost in travel demand, with Chongqing emerging as one of the country’s most popular destinations.                          

Tourists enjoy the spring view at Taohuayuan scenic spot in Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, April 4, 2025. (Photo/Qiu Hongbin, Xinhua)

Data from travel platform Qunar shows that between April 1 and 6, passenger air travel to major cities increased by around 30 percent year-on-year. At the same time, news of an upcoming rise in aviation fuel surcharges has encouraged travelers to book early, turning the Qingming holiday and spring break into a “value window” for long-distance trips.

Travel patterns reveal a clear divide between families on spring break schedules and working professionals. Families tended to depart earlier, making April 1 the first peak travel day — even surpassing the official start of the Qingming holiday in passenger volume.

Meanwhile, travelers without spring break, including office workers, largely began their journeys on April 3, forming a second departure peak. As the holiday draws to a close, overlapping return flows are expected to create a major travel surge on April 6.

Airfare trends have also played a key role in driving demand. Flights departing on April 1 were generally cheaper than those on April 3, offering better value for early travelers.

For example, on the popular Chengdu–Sanya route, the lowest one-way ticket price on April 1 was around 800 yuan — still slightly higher than in previous periods, but roughly half the average fare for May Day holiday travel. The anticipated increase in fuel surcharges has further prompted families to travel sooner.

Younger travelers are a significant part of this surge. Data shows that during the April 1–6 period, ticket bookings for children under 12 doubled year-on-year, while those for teenagers aged 13 to 18 rose by 1.3 times — both far exceeding growth in other age groups. Travelers under 18 now account for nearly 20 percent of total passengers.

In terms of destinations, the top 10 most popular cities for air travel during the period are Shanghai, Chengdu, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Haikou and Sanya. Chongqing ranks eighth, highlighting its growing appeal as a tourism hotspot.

On the supply side, cities with spring breaks have seen the most notable increases in outbound travel. Chengdu leads the country in passenger departures, with popular destinations including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Sanya. Many travelers chose to depart early, with March 31 departures rising 1.4 times from the previous day, and April 1 reaching a peak — more than five times higher than the same period last year.

Tourist attractions are also benefiting from the surge. Among visitors who have already booked tickets for April 1–6, the number of travelers aged 13–18 has increased 3.3 times year-on-year. Nearly half of these young visitors come from cities offering spring break.

The most popular attractions include major theme parks, cultural landmarks and natural scenic areas, such as Universal Beijing Resort, Shanghai Disney Resort, the Terracotta Warriors Museum in Xi’an and Huangshan Mountain.

Hotel bookings show a similar trend. The top cities for domestic hotel reservations during the period are Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi’an, Luoyang, Wuhan, Nanjing, Chongqing and Changsha, with Chongqing ranking ninth. The data reflects the city’s strong capacity and appeal as a travel destination during peak periods.

Yang Han, a researcher at Qunar’s Big Data Research Institute, noted that the combination of spring break and the Qingming holiday has significantly boosted domestic travel demand.

“The staggered schedules help ease peak congestion, allowing travelers to enjoy better prices and a more comfortable experience,” Yang said. “Cities that implement spring breaks not only generate strong outbound travel but also attract visitors through targeted policies, creating a positive cycle for local tourism markets.”

With rising demand, flexible travel timing and competitive pricing, this year’s Qingming holiday is shaping up to be an unexpectedly vibrant travel season — with Chongqing firmly on the map for travelers across China.