Chongqing - Sales of goods and services in Chongqing reached 21.16 billion yuan during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, up 11.7% from the comparable holiday period in 2024, according to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce.
Moon-viewing activities, nighttime visits to historic towns, and traditional crafts gave residents and visitors a range of ways to celebrate the festival.
Residents and visitors watch a drone light show from Nanbin Road in Chongqing's Nan'an District during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday on Sept. 26, 2026. (Photo: Zheng Yu)
According to the commission, food service sales rose 10.5%, and accommodation sales increased 14.7% compared with the equivalent holiday period in 2024.
Family reunions and moon viewing, both central to the festival, shaped restaurants' holiday offerings. Along Nanbin Road, riverside restaurants offered dinners on outdoor terraces where guests could enjoy views of the moon, as well as customized dining services in private rooms overlooking the river.
In Ciqikou Ancient Town, businesses offered family reunion meals featuring local dishes. The commerce commission said family meal packages, local food, night markets and discounts helped drive dining sales. Short leisure trips and visits to nearby destinations also supported demand for accommodation.
Visitors gather beside a lantern display inspired by traditional Chinese folklore at Changjiahui in Nan'an District during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. (Photo: Zheng Yu)
Night tours, traditional Chinese-themed fairs and lantern events were also held across Chongqing during the holiday, according to a Sept. 27 update from the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development.
The culture and tourism commission also reported 81 cultural events, including traditional craft markets, folk performances, and lantern riddle activities, with combined attendance of 220,000. These activities offered opportunities to explore traditional crafts and customs during the holiday.
Commercial areas also incorporated traditional culture into their holiday programs. At Changjiahui, visitors could make fish lanterns, watch themed parades, and enjoy silk ribbon dance performances alongside dining and shopping. A shopping festival in Jiefangbei featured brand launches, lifestyle activities, and cross-border goods.
Across 20 key shopping districts in Chongqing's central urban area, sales rose 7.1% from the comparable holiday period in 2024, according to the commerce commission.
Figures provided by the commerce commission also showed that Chongqing recorded 5,376,500 domestic tourist visits during the holiday, up 9.5% from the comparable period in 2024. Domestic tourism spending totaled 5.44 billion yuan, an increase of 14.8% over the same holiday period in 2024.