“Did you see the 2026 holiday schedule is out? Should we go see winter-time Sayram Lake this Spring Festival?” After the General Office of the State Council announced the 2026 holiday arrangements, Liu, an office worker in Qingdao, Shandong, excitedly shared the news with friends and busied himself planning a trip for what he called “the longest Spring Festival holiday ever.” “In the past, I was always too busy traveling home for family reunions during Spring Festival to go on trips. With such ample time off this year, I can finally experience traveling during the holiday!” Xiao Liu said.

Mr. Che, an office worker from Wuxi, Jiangsu, also couldn't hide his anticipation: “I'll definitely spend quality time with my parents during the holiday. Besides visiting relatives, I plan to use these nine days to explore ancient towns and hot spring resorts near my hometown. Previous holidays were too short—I wanted to travel but always felt rushed. This time, I can slow down, spend time with family, and enjoy leisurely trips.”

The 2026 Spring Festival holiday has been extended to nine days, providing a solid foundation for long-distance travel and immersive experiences. Within half an hour of the holiday announcement, travel-related searches on the Qunar travel app surged dramatically: searches for train tickets during the New Year's period, Spring Festival train tickets, and international flights instantly doubled and continue to climb. Among these, searches for flights departing during the Spring Festival surged threefold, clearly demonstrating consumers' enthusiasm for travel during this extended holiday.

Li Mengran, Media and Public Relations Manager at Zhongxin Tourism Group, informed reporters that following the holiday schedule announcement, incoming calls to the group's call center instantly increased by 300%. There was a noticeable rise in demand for vacation packages and small group tours like “one family, one group.” Moreover, over 50% of travelers plan trips lasting 10 days or longer. Inquiries for distinctive destination products—such as in-depth European cultural tours, extended cruise itineraries, and unique experiences in North America, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe's Balkans—show a marked upward trend. Seizing this market momentum, Zhongxin Travel has swiftly launched multiple 2026 Spring Festival holiday travel products.

Zhongxin Travel predicts that the nine-day holiday will significantly boost the vitality of the Spring Festival tourism market, with demand expected to surge across segments including domestic travel, outbound tourism, vacation trips, and winter sports tourism. Family reunions and leisure vacations will emerge as core consumption scenarios, while the tourism potential of second- and third-tier cities will be further unlocked.

Many eager consumers have already placed orders. Qunar Travel data shows that numerous travelers from Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Harbin have booked flights departing before the Spring Festival. Popular domestic destinations include Haikou, Sanya, and Hangzhou, while top outbound destinations are Seoul, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan. Based on booked flight volumes, Spring Festival travel in 2026 has seen a 63% year-on-year increase compared to 2025.

A representative from Tongcheng Research Institute stated that improving the vacation system helps stimulate cultural and tourism consumption. Whether it's extending the Spring Festival holiday or piloting student “spring-autumn breaks” and “snow breaks” in some regions, these measures reflect how vacation systems have become crucial tools for boosting consumer vitality.

Editor Ⅰ: Zhang Congxiao

Editor Ⅱ: Bao Gang

Editor Ⅲ: Liu Guosong