China's May Day Travel Surpasses 1.5 Billion Trips

The Ministry of Transport predicts that total cross-regional travel during the May Day holiday will reach 1.52 billion person-times. China's Ministry of Transport reported that on May 1st, the total cross-regional personnel mobility across the country exceeded 1.52 billion person-times, with daily averages surpassing 300 million person-times. Daily travel volume was 350.2 million person-times, a 4% increase from the previous year. This surge is attributed to the public's growing confidence in leisure travel and the introduction of new holiday policies that extended travel times and promoted consumption upgrades. The transcript mentions that during this time, events and festivals were held, attracting people to areas that are usually quiet. Beijing's commercial districts experienced increased foot traffic and sales during the May Day holiday. Tourists are seeking deeper experiences beyond local day trips. Cultural and sports-related travel, driven by events like concerts and festivals, is showing strong economic benefits, exceeding traditional tourism revenue. During the recent May Day holiday, China's total cross-regional passenger flow reached 1.517 billion person-times, a 3.49% increase compared to the same period in 2025, setting a new historical record. Online travel platforms indicate that core cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen remain top destinations for foreign tourists, with cities such as Sanya and Kaiyang seeing a 110% year-on-year increase in foreign visitors. During the May Day holiday, China's domestic tourism saw over 1.5 billion trips, generating 629.27 billion yuan in sales.