China's domestic tourism and consumption showed strong recovery momentum during the week-long National Day holiday, with several provinces reporting remarkable increases in both visits and revenues, according to official data.
Central China's Henan Province, a cradle of the Chinese civilization and home to abundant heritage sites, received nearly 80 million tourists with a revenue of 56.6 billion yuan (eight billion U.S. dollars).
Compared with the same period last year, the visits received increased by 5.1 percent and the tourism revenue increased by 15.5 percent.
The country's southern economic powerhouse Guangdong Province received nearly 60 million tourists and harvested 53.7 billion yuan (7.6 billion U.S. dollars).
The national capital Beijing received a total of 21.59 million tourists during the Golden Week, 18.35 percent more in comparison with that from the same period one year earlier. The gross tourism income has topped 26.8 billion yuan, also marking a notable growth of 11.67 percent year on year.
The Beijing Central Axis, a newly-inscribed UNESCO world heritage site, has been a hotspot for tourists interested in ancient architectures and culture heritages.
"Every corner of the park is very beautiful, and I feel the general styles and customs of Beijing, which is tremendously delightful," said a tourist.
Fujian Province received a total of 38.2 million visitors, a 10.5 percent increase, with tourism spending up 11.3 percent to 31.5 billion yuan (4.3 billion U.S. dollars).
"We display our most typical pastry and presents with utmost enthusiasm, and our inherited handicrafts to people across the country. I wish everyone a good time in Xiamen during the festival," said Zeng Huashan, inheritor of Xiamen traditional handmade craftsmanship of Gulangyu pies, an intangible cultural heritage.
The catering industry also showed robust growth. Shanghai's dining consumption reached eight billion yuan, posting double-digit growth. In southwest China's Chongqing, the catering industry saw its turnover increase by 3.2 percent year on year.
Data from Meituan, a major online food delivery platform, showed average daily dine-in consumption in the first five days of the holiday increased by 33.4 percent compared to 2023.
"There are so many tourists in this National Day holiday coming to Qinghai to try our hand-held mutton. Diners had to wait in line for hours, just to taste the mutton," said a restaurant owner.
"I waited in line for half an hour, as many say that their steamed bun is very delicious. So I come to give it a try," said a tourist.
Along with booming tourism, the country's extensive trade-in programs covering cars and home appliances have beefed up consumption nationwide.
Analysts say the strong holiday spending reflects a steady recovery in China's economy.
National Day holiday tourism consumption grows
