China Celebrates Mid-Autumn Beautiful Festival with Record Tourist Numbers

Published on September 23, 2024

The 2024 Mid-Autumn Festival (September 15-17) saw the Chinese tourism market thrive, with 107 million domestic trips recorded. This reflects a 6.3% increase compared to 2019. Total travel expenditure reached 51.047 billion yuan, an 8.0% rise over the same period.

According to data from Fliggy, travel bookings for this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival surpassed those of previous holidays like New Year’s Day and the Dragon Boat Festival. Per capita bookings for domestic trips increased by 5%, and bookings for high-star hotels and unique homestays made up 60% of total reservations.

The Mid-Autumn Festival featured cultural activities such as lantern festivals, fire dragon dances, and moon worship, creating a festive ambiance across China. Foreign tourists also enjoyed these cultural experiences, with many visiting museums and historic sites.

Short-distance travel boomed, with many opting for self-driving or high-speed rail trips. Theme parks were popular family destinations, and various ticket discounts and cultural promotion activities further boosted tourism.

Nighttime cultural tourism gained popularity, with moon viewing and lantern displays drawing crowds in city squares and gardens. Meanwhile, autumn-themed travel routes showcasing cultural experiences and regional cuisines were launched.

China’s National Immigration Administration reported over 5.2 million border crossings during the holiday, averaging 1.7 million per day, an 18.6% increase from the previous year. Destinations like Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Xi’an remained top choices, while lesser-known locations such as Jincheng, Jingdezhen, and Aba gained popularity.