Wuhan - China's National Day holiday is increasingly bringing travelers beyond traditional tourism hubs, with new first-tier cities gaining popularity for their transport links, local culture and urban lifestyle.
The trend is especially visible at major railway stations. In Wuhan, a key transport hub in central China, Hankou Railway Station was still packed with travelers at nearly 11 p.m. on September 30, with taxis lining up outside and staff directing passenger flows. One taxi driver said he had waited nearly three hours to enter the station pickup area.
Hankou Railway Station was still packed with travelers at nearly 11 p.m. on September 30. (Photo/Chen Zhan)
Wuhan's central location has long made it an important transport hub connecting major cities and regions across the country. According to Hubei Daily, China Railway Wuhan Group expected to handle an average of 956,000 departing passenger trips per day during the holiday period, up 5.1% from a year earlier. On October 1 alone, the group expected 1.25 million departing passenger trips, including about 260,000 from Hankou Railway Station.
The railway rush contrasted with Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, which appeared relatively calm during the reporter's visit, highlighting how passenger flows can differ by transport mode and time of day.
The airport offers travelers a glimpse of Wuhan's local identity. A display inspired by the Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng, one of Hubei's best-known cultural treasures, introduces visitors to the region's history, while local food options include Wuhan specialties such as hot dry noodles.
The Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport introduces visitors to Hubei's history. (Photo/Chen Zhan)
But the National Day holiday is not only about visiting famous attractions. For many travelers, it is also a time to meet friends and relatives, dine out and experience the everyday life of another city.
In Hankou, away from Wuhan's best-known tourist sites, parks, shopping centers and restaurants were filled with local residents and visitors spending time together.
Wuhan MixC, a major shopping complex popular among younger consumers, saw steady crowds moving between fashion stores, cafes and dessert shops.
Inside the Teaspira, groups of friends spent long stretches talking over drinks and desserts. (Photo/Chen Zhan)
Among them is Teaspira, or Mu Cong Jiu, a homegrown Wuhan tea, coffee and dessert brand. Rather than positioning itself as a traditional Chinese teahouse, the brand has sought to reinterpret tea for younger consumers, combining handcrafted tea drinks, coffee, desserts and contemporary store design. Its concept has long emphasized the cafe as a social space where people can gather, bringing traditional tea culture into a more modern urban setting.
At its Wuhan MixC location, customers waited about 20 to 30 minutes for seats during the holiday. Soufflés are among its best-known desserts, alongside tea and coffee. Inside, groups of friends spent long stretches talking over drinks and desserts, offering a glimpse of a form of consumption increasingly visible in Chinese cities: people are paying not only for products, but also for spaces to socialize and spend leisure time.
Scenes like this were repeated across China's new first-tier cities during the holiday, where busy shopping districts, crowded restaurants and packed entertainment venues pointed to a broader shift in urban consumption. Spending is increasingly moving beyond the purchase of goods toward experiences, leisure and social interaction, with cafés, cultural venues, lifestyle stores and entertainment spaces becoming important destinations in their own right.