As the 2026 New Year holiday just wrapped up, mainland China was buzzing with travel, culture and entertainment. 🎊
🚄 Railway return peak
On Saturday, Jan 3, the final day of the three-day break, railways handled a whopping 17.45 million passenger trips, according to data from China State Railway Group. To keep up, they added 1,343 extra trains. Popular departure hubs were Guangzhou, Beijing and Chengdu, with travellers headed back to Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. On Friday alone, over 12 million trips rolled through the national network.
🎬 Cinema & consumer boom
Festive excitement plus strategic blockbuster releases led to packed cinemas! The movie rush spilled over to food stalls, malls and entertainment spots, driving up footfall and revenues across the board. 🍿
🌏 Tourism on the rise
Cultural tourism visits surged as heritage sites and local festivals drew crowds. Inbound tourism also saw a noticeable uptick, with international visitors joining the New Year celebrations.
This momentum hints at a thriving travel and leisure scene for 2026. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or catching the latest hit, the post-holiday energy is real! 🚀
Reference(s):
China's New Year holiday sees peak travel, surge in inbound tourism
cgtn.com
