China logs 826 million domestic trips, 738 billion yuan spent over National Day holiday
In short
China recorded 826 million domestic trips during the seven-day 2026 National Day holiday, with total domestic travel spending of 738.375 billion yuan, according to calculations by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism data centre reported on October 9. On a comparable daily-average basis, trips rose 6.3% and spending 4.3% from 2025. The country also received 2.983 million inbound tourists over the holiday.
Read the full story 1 min read
China recorded 826 million domestic trips during the seven-day 2026 National Day holiday, with total domestic travel spending of 738.375 billion yuan, according to calculations by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism data centre reported by CLS, Yicai and China News Service on October 9. On a comparable daily-average basis, trips rose 6.3% and spending 4.3% from 2025. China News Service said the national culture and tourism market over the holiday was stable and orderly. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Red tourism was popular, with 40% of tourists visiting revolutionary venues, watching flag-raising ceremonies or attending patriotic performances, China News Service reported. Rural tourism also gained, with autumn scenery viewing, intangible cultural heritage experiences, farm picking, rural night tours, bonfire markets and rice-field concerts among the draws. The performance market was busy: 180 large-scale performances were held nationwide, including 125 concerts and 55 music festivals. [ 3 ]
During the national National Day culture and tourism consumption month, local governments issued more than 310 million yuan in consumption subsidies, the report said. Night-time tourism activities such as evening performances, night tours of traditional-style ancient towns and light shows were rolled out, and national-level night-time culture and tourism consumption clusters recorded 107 million night-time visitors, up 5.6% year on year. Inbound tourism was also active, with 2.983 million inbound tourists received, up 19.0% from 2024 and 6.5% from 2025 on a comparable daily-average basis. [ 3 ]
China News Service also reported that travel linked to sporting events continued to grow, with mass events such as the Su Chao (苏超), Dongbei Chao (东北超) and Village BA (村BA) boosting passenger transport, catering and accommodation. Digital exhibitions, VR/AR experiences and AI travel companions were used to enrich visits, while big-data monitoring and AI dispatching were used to keep the market safe and orderly. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The National Day holiday is one of China's main travel periods, and the ministry figures give an official reading of domestic travel and spending for 2026. The growth rates compared with 2025 and the inbound tourist numbers were reported by both business outlets and an official outlet on the day of release.
Key facts
- Domestic trips during the seven-day 2026 National Day holiday totalled 826 million, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism data centre. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Total domestic travel spending was 738.375 billion yuan. [ 1 , 3 ]
- On a comparable daily-average basis, trips were up 6.3% and spending up 4.3% from 2025. [ 1 , 3 ]
- China received 2.983 million inbound tourists over the holiday, up 19.0% from 2024 and 6.5% from 2025 on a comparable daily-average basis. [ 3 ]
- Forty percent of tourists took part in red tourism activities such as visiting revolutionary venues, watching flag-raising ceremonies and attending patriotic performances. [ 3 ]
- A total of 180 large-scale performances were held nationwide, including 125 concerts and 55 music festivals. [ 3 ]
- More than 310 million yuan in consumption subsidies were issued during the national National Day culture and tourism consumption month. [ 3 ]
- National-level night-time culture and tourism consumption clusters recorded 107 million night-time visitors, up 5.6% year on year. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- 826 million domestic trips were made during the 2026 National Day holiday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Domestic travel spending totalled 738.375 billion yuan, with trips up 6.3% and spending up 4.3% from 2025 on a comparable daily-average basis, per the Ministry of Culture and Tourism data centre. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Inbound tourists numbered 2.983 million, up 19.0% from 2024 and 6.5% from 2025 on a comparable daily-average basis. [ 3 ]
Still unclear
- How the comparable daily-average basis was calculated. The documents say the year-on-year growth figures are on a comparable (daily average) basis but do not explain the calculation or the length of the 2025 holiday used for comparison.