Spring Vacation Ignites China’s Tourism Market, Boosting Multi-Industry Consumption

BEIJING, April 10, 2026 – Gliding over golden flower seas in hot air balloons, exploring millennia of cultural heritage in museums, and enjoying quality parent-child time in theme parks... As spring vacation kicks off for primary and secondary schools in many Chinese cities, the tourism market has ushered in a new upsurge, according to Global Network.

Industry insiders note that the connection between spring vacation and the Qingming Festival holiday has activated public travel demand, with nearby tours, short-distance trips and study tours heating up significantly, further releasing consumption vitality.

Primary and secondary schools in Nanjing, Chengdu, Hefei and other cities have set their spring vacation from April 1 to 3, which overlaps with the Qingming Festival holiday to form a flexible "long weekend + holiday combination". In Beijing Universal Resort, long queues formed in front of the "Flight of the Jurassic" ride. "My child has spring vacation from April 1 to 3, and with the Qingming holiday, we have 6 days off in total – perfect for a family trip to Beijing," said Ms. Zhang, a tourist from Nanjing.

In Baozi Town, Huitong County, Hunan Province, ten thousand mu of rapeseed fields are in full bloom. Many parents take their children to overlook the flower sea by hot air balloon, a unique selling point that has attracted numerous families to check in, according to scenic spot staff. Meituan Travel data shows that from April 1 to 6, many places saw a travel peak, with parent-child homestay bookings particularly booming – orders from Nanjing and Chengdu increased multiple times.

Railway transportation was also busy. A relevant person in charge of Chengdu Railway Station stated that high-speed train tickets from Chengdu to many popular cities were almost sold out on the first day of spring vacation. Hong Yong, associate researcher at the Research Institute of the Ministry of Commerce, believes that the launch of spring vacation in many places not only increases holiday time, but also restructures the time distribution of residents’ travel and consumption rhythm.

Study tours, focusing on in-depth experience with "research" as the core and "learning" as the goal, were highly favored during the vacation. Meituan Travel data shows that venues such as the National Museum of China, Nanjing Science and Technology Museum, Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum and the Palace Museum were in high demand for reservations, with the National Museum of China open normally from April 4 to 6 to meet public cultural needs.

At Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum, immersive study activities were held from April 1 to 6, with daily performances including "Green Robe Ode" and "Eulogy to Wuhou’s Eternal Integrity", as well as research courses like "Wolong’s Secret Scroll" to help parent-child families experience history and culture interactively. "We have designed multiple study routes around red inheritance, cutting-edge science and rural scenery," said Zhai Rongsheng, deputy director of Hefei Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.

The tourism boom has also driven consumption in catering, retail and other fields. In Nanjing Gaochun International Slow City, "flower field hot pot" became a unique spring experience, attracting many tourists and citizens. In Chizhou, Anhui Province, the number of tourists increased significantly, boosting consumption in homestays, catering and cultural and creative products. "From April 1 to 5, nearby characteristic homestays were almost fully booked, mainly by parent-child families who stayed for several days," said Du Yu, person in charge of Xinghuacun Cultural Tourism Area.

Outdoor equipment consumption also rose. Data from consumption platform "Smzdm" shows that GMV of spring clothing in March increased by about 20% year-on-year, with Polo shirts up more than 100%. "Light outdoor" equipment such as hiking pants, outdoor backpacks and quick-drying clothes also saw rapid growth. Zhu Keli, founding president of the China New Economy Research Institute, noted that spring vacation consumption featured scene integration and booming supply and demand, reflecting the upgrading of consumption structure from traditional sightseeing to experiential and high-quality consumption.

In Hefei, the third phase of the "artificial sun" research camp coincided with the spring vacation, attracting parents from all over the country due to its good reputation, according to Xu Huayu, person in charge of Anhui Global Cultural Tourism Group Co., Ltd. The unique and diverse experiences during the vacation have turned tourism "traffic" into consumption "increment", creating a vibrant consumption ecosystem.