Overview

• China logged 8.88 billion domestic person-trips over the eight-day holiday, with people aged 20–30 accounting for more than half of flight and train ticket orders, according to official and platform data.
• Budget and chain hotels saw steep, uneven increases—rooms that typically cost about 100 yuan were listed at 1,000 yuan or more, some prebooked stays were canceled and relisted higher, and brands such as Hanting, Home Inn and Vienna reported double-digit price gains.
• Many five-star properties kept rates relatively stable or even lower than weekdays, a pattern tied to weaker corporate travel budgets and brand considerations, with industry reports citing a 15%–20% drop in business travel spending over the past three years.
• Travelers adjusted strategies: middle-aged tourists upgraded to high-end hotels for service certainty, while younger travelers opted for hostels, B&Bs or tents, with camping gear sales up 230% year over year and campsite occupancy around 92%.
• Platforms reported shifts toward slower, experience-led travel and nighttime activities—experience bookings rose more than 50% and night-tour searches jumped over 200%—highlighting changing preferences as the sector grapples with oversupply and softening performance.