As the 2026 Spring Festival holiday season unfolds, a growing number of families across the Chinese mainland are redefining traditional travel by undertaking ambitious road trips in electric vehicles. The recent 2,942-kilometer journey by Hangzhou resident Ms. Wang and her family exemplifies this shift, demonstrating how new energy vehicles (NEVs) are enabling both adventure and family bonding.
Over 11 days, the Wang family navigated their EV through seven cities including Fuzhou and Guangzhou, spending between 7,000 to 8,000 yuan ($1,013-$1,158) on the entire round trip from Hangzhou. While maintaining hotel stays for most nights, they embraced the flexibility of their vehicle by sleeping in it during stops in Huizhou and Shantou – positioning themselves near scenic areas while avoiding rigid accommodation schedules.
"The quiet space of our car became an unexpected sanctuary for connection," Ms. Wang told KhabarAsia. "Instead of staring at screens, we shared stories and even studied together during charging stops."
Infrastructure Growth Enables New Travel Patterns
This trend is supported by China's expanding EV infrastructure network. Solo traveler Ms. Zhao from Suzhou recently completed a 1,200-km trip to Jiangxi, relying on monitored parking lots and strategic charging stops. "I never let the battery drop below 40% – the growing number of service areas made this possible," she explained.
Industry analysts note that such journeys reflect broader confidence in NEV technology and infrastructure development. With charging stations now covering 95% of China's expressway service areas, families are increasingly viewing EVs as viable for both daily use and extended holiday travel.
