Traveler Flows In China Rise By 8% During The 2025 Spring Festival Celebrations

During the 2025 Spring Festival in China, traveller numbers rose by eight percent compared to last year, as reported by China Central Television (CCTV). This festival is China's largest annual celebration, where millions travel to their hometowns or visit scenic spots for the Chinese New Year. The holiday spanned eight days and ended on Tuesday.

The Spring Festival's significance increased this year as UNESCO added it to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition led to a 12 percent rise in travellers interested in traditional festival customs compared to last year.

Destinations known for ice and snow continued to attract many visitors during this period. Harbin, located in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, is famous for its ice sculptures and winter sports culture. It saw a six percent increase in tourist numbers compared to last year. Foreign tourists also showed interest, with visits to Harbin rising by 42 percent.

China's northern provinces like Heilongjiang, Jilin, Hebei, and Xinjiang, along with Beijing, are popular for skiing. "The popularity of ice and snow tourism continues to rise," said Wang Xuejian from China Mobile. Tourist numbers increased by 11 percent compared to last year, while ski resorts experienced a 46 percent rise in visitors compared to regular days.

The Spring Festival also saw more foreign tourists due to relaxed visa policies in China. In December, China extended its visa-free transit policy. Eligible international visitors from 54 countries can now stay up to 240 hours without a visa. During the holiday, inbound tourists increased by 10 percent compared to last year.

Countries like South Korea, Indonesia, and France had significant increases in tourist numbers at 79 percent, 46 percent, and 39 percent respectively. European and American tourists prefer large cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Meanwhile, Southeast Asian visitors are drawn to southern destinations like Chengdu, Chongqing, and Zhoushan.

This year's Spring Festival highlighted China's growing appeal as a travel destination both domestically and internationally. The combination of cultural heritage recognition and relaxed visa policies contributed significantly to the increase in visitor numbers.

With inputs from WAM