China travel demand surges ahead of Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays

As the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays approach, China is seeing a significant shift in consumer behavior toward long-distance travel and service-based experiences. Data from platforms like Tongcheng shows a 56% monthly increase in bookings for domestic flights over 1,200 kilometers, with long-duration travel products (6–10 days) making up over 60% of bookings.

This trend reflects a broader structural change in Chinese consumption. Service-related spending is projected to reach 46.1% of per capita consumption by 2025. Unlike physical goods, service consumption is constrained by time; travelers must be present at specific times to realize value, leading to increased demand for multi-city stays and extended itineraries.

Due to high demand, railway authorities have noted tight ticket availability on popular routes. The railway system is implementing a “long-distance priority” strategy to ensure travelers on longer journeys are accommodated. Passengers are advised to use official channels like 12306, utilize waitlist functions, or consider alternative transit options such as transfers to manage travel during the peak period.