May Day Holiday 2026: 180 Million Domestic Trips, Tourism Revenue Up 28%#

China's May Day holiday (Labor Day, May 1-5) broke every previous tourism record, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on May 6, 2026.

The Numbers (Official)

Domestic Trips

180 million trips — up 28% from 2025 May Day (which was 140 million trips).

This is the largest May Day travel volume in Chinese history — surpassing pre-COVID levels (168 million in 2019) and confirming that China's domestic tourism has not

Tourism Revenue

¥120 billion RMB (~$16.9 billion USD) — up 32% from 2025.

Average spending per trip: ¥667 RMB (~$94 USD), up 3.2% from 2025. The increase suggests Chinese tourists are spending more per visit (better hotels, more dining, longer stays).

Transportation

High-speed rail: 12.5 million trips during the 5-day period (up 35% from 2025)
Flights: 28 million passenger trips (up 22% from 2025)
Highways: 58 million car trips (up 18% from 2025)

The Top Destinations (Ranked by Visitor Volume)

1. Sichuan Province (Chengdu + Jiuzhaigou)

22.5 million visitors — the most popular province.

Chengdu: Pandas, hot pot, relaxed city vibe
Jiuzhaigou: Multi-colored alpine lakes (reopened fully in 2024 after the 2008 earthquake)
Interest: Nature-based tourism is the post-COVID trend in China

2. Guangdong Province (Guangzhou + Shenzhen + Zhuhai)

18.3 million visitors

Guangzhou: Dim sum, Cantonese cuisine, nightlife
Shenzhen: Modern architecture, tech company tours (Tencent, Huawei, DJI)
Zhuhai: Macau access, coastal walks

3. Zhejiang Province (Hangzhou + Wuzhen + Suzhou)

16.8 million visitors

Hangzhou: West Lake, Longjing tea, classical gardens
Wuzhen: Water town, lit canals at night
Suzhou: UNESCO gardens, silk production

4. Yunnan Province (Kunming + Lijang + Shangri-La)

14.2 million visitors

Kunming: Spring city, flower markets
Lijiang: Naxi culture, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Shangri-La: Tibetan culture, high-altitude lakes

5. Shaanxi Province (Xi'an + Huashan)

12.6 million visitors

Xi'an: Terracotta Army, city walls, muslim Quarter
Huashan: One of China's five sacred mountains, dangerous plank walk

The Trends (What Changed in 2026)

1. "Reverse Tourism"（反向旅游） — Going to Less-Famous Places

Instead of Beijing and Shanghai, 65% of travelers chose tier-3/4 cities and rural destinations.

Why: Overcrowding in top-tier cities (Beijing's Forbidden City had 80,000 daily visitors during the holiday). "Reverse tourism" is about quieter, cheaper, more "authentic" experiences.

Top "reverse" destinations:

Zunyi, Guizhou — Red tourism (Long March sites)
Fuyang, Anhui — Huangshan Mountain access town
Lijiang, Yunnan — Already popular, but less crowded than Beijing

2. "Specialty-Base Tourism"（特色基地游） — Themed Travel

Instead of generic sightseeing, tourists chose destinations based on specific interests:

Hot spring tourism: 25 million trips to hot spring resorts (up 45% from 2025)
Strawberry picking: 12 million visits to agricultural tourism sites
Intangible cultural heritage tours: 8 million visits to traditional craft workshops

3. High-Speed Rail Tourism ("Along the Tracks")

38% of trips used high-speed rail as the primary transportation. The expanded HSR network (20,000+ km) means you can reach 80% of tourist destinations by bullet train.

Most popular HSR tourist routes:

**Chengdu → Jiuzhaigou (5 hours, ¥180 round trip)
**Shanghai → Huangshan (3.5 hours, ¥320 round trip)
Guangzhou → Guilin (3 hours, ¥240 round trip)

4. Family Multi-Generation Travel

42% of trips were multi-generation families (grandparents + parents + children).

Why: China's aging population — grandparents are active and mobile. "Grandparent tourism" is a growing market.

What This Means for Your 2026-2027 Travel Plans#

1. Book High-Speed Rail Tickets 30-60 Days Ahead

The May Day data shows HSR is now the dominant travel mode. Tickets for popular routes (Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou, Shanghai-Huangshan) sell out 30-60 days in advance.

2. Consider Tier-3 Cities and Rural Areas

"Reverse tourism" means tier-1 cities (Beijing, Shanghai) are overcrowded,

3. Avoid May Day and National Day (October 1-7) If Possible

May Day 2026 had 180 million trips. National Day will likely exceed 200 million. If you dislike crowds, avoid these periods.

Better times: March-April (spring) or November (autumn, fewer crowds).

4. Domestic Tourism Is Expensive Now

Average spending per trip rose 3.2%. Hotels in popular destinations now cost 2-3x during holidays.

Strategy: Travel during off-peak periods. A ¥400/night hotel during May Day becomes ¥180/night in March.

May Day Holiday 2026: 180 Million Domestic Trips, Tourism Revenue Up 28%