Chinese citizens demonstrated robust spending power over the Mid-Autumn Festival, as key sectors like tourism and postal services experienced significant growth during the three-day holiday.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, domestic tourist attractions recorded approximately 107 million visits over the weekend, a 6.3 percent increase compared to 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated from Sunday to Tuesday, is one of China’s four major traditional festivals, alongside the Spring Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, and Dragon Boat Festival.
Families took part in traditional activities such as making and eating mooncakes, guessing lantern riddles, and moon-watching as part of the celebrations. Despite the impact of Typhoon Bebinca, which made landfall in Shanghai on Monday and affected travel plans for some, the tourism sector showed remarkable resilience.
Holiday travelers spent over 51 billion yuan ($7.19 billion) during the vacation, representing an 8 percent increase compared to 2019. The shorter holiday encouraged tourists to opt for local trips or night-time excursions, with East China’s Fujian province reporting an impressive 2.06 million nighttime visitors to its scenic spots, a 19.5 percent increase from 2019.
Culturally rich destinations featuring traditional Chinese activities, such as lantern fairs and opera performances, saw particularly high demand. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism described the surge as a “travel craze,” fueled by the rich cultural experiences on offer.
Meanwhile, the inbound and outbound travel market also flourished. Data from the National Immigration Administration revealed that China’s border inspection offices recorded 5.25 million entries and exits, an 18.6 percent year-on-year increase. Of those, mainland residents accounted for 2.63 million entries and exits, a 15.1 percent rise from last year. Foreign travelers, meanwhile, surged by 62.2 percent year-on-year, reaching 554,000. Entries and exits by residents from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan totaled 2.07 million, a 7.3 percent year-on-year increase.
Beijing, a major hub for consumption, reported retail sales of approximately 4.7 billion yuan over the holiday, spanning shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants, and online platforms, according to figures from the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, as reported by China Central Television.
The postal and courier sector also experienced a boost in activity. The State Post Bureau announced that approximately 1.31 billion parcels were collected by courier services during the holiday, a 35.4 percent increase compared to last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival. Parcel deliveries also surged, reaching 1.407 billion, reflecting a 45.7 percent year-on-year growth.
This holiday season highlights the resilience of China’s consumer market, showcasing the country’s continued economic strength and growing demand across multiple sectors.