During the recent National Day holiday, China’s tourism industry experienced unprecedented prosperity, highlighting the robust momentum of economic recovery. According to data from China National Railway Group, rail passenger numbers soared to record highs throughout the holiday, reflecting increased consumer confidence and showcasing the resilience and potential of the Chinese economy on a global scale.
On October 1, the first day of the holiday, the number of passengers transported by China Rail reached 21.448 million, setting a historical record. It is estimated that a total of 175 million passengers will be transported by rail during the entire Golden Week. The rapid expansion of the high-speed rail network has been a key driver behind this phenomenon, with the total operational mileage of Chinese railways exceeding 160,000 kilometers, of which high-speed rail accounts for over 46,000 kilometers, maintaining the world's largest network. This improvement in infrastructure has greatly facilitated travel for the public, making spontaneous trips a reality.
For instance, the newly opened Meizhou-Longchuan High-speed Railway connects eastern Guangdong with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, further shortening the distance between cities and enhancing travel options. Additionally, the surge in railway passenger traffic during the holiday has led to record highs in freight transport, injecting vitality into the economies along the railway lines.
As passenger numbers spiked, the tourism market also exhibited strong signs of recovery during the holiday. Data shows that tickets for popular attractions sold out quickly, and outbound travel orders from fourth- and fifth-tier cities saw significant year-on-year growth. Travel booking platform Trip.com reported that daily outbound travel orders during the National Day holiday more than doubled compared to the previous year, indicating that family trips have become a new consumer trend.
The booming tourism sector is not only reflected in the numbers but also in the enhanced travel experiences and the emergence of new business models. Industry insiders point out that modern consumers prioritize travel experiences over scarce resources. Innovative tourism formats, such as “tourism + performance” and “tourism + sports,” have injected new vitality into the market. Furthermore, the appeal of non-scarce tourist resources is on the rise, with the popularity of niche attractions like museums and zoos significantly increasing.
International media have also highlighted China's consumer market recovery and its impact on the global tourism industry. The UK's Financial Times noted that China's Golden Week was one of the busiest holidays ever, reflecting the country's strong resilience and long-term growth potential. Spain's EFE news agency emphasized that the growth in outbound travel during the holiday, alongside the boom in domestic tourism, has jointly fueled China's economic rebound.
Economic observers believe that the tourism surge during this year's National Day holiday is not just a return to consumerism, but a clear signal of China's economic recovery. This trend indicates that consumer confidence is on the rise, and market vitality is being unleashed once again. In the context of sluggish global economic recovery, China's strong growth momentum undoubtedly injects new energy into the world economy.