China's nine-day Spring Festival holiday, the longest on record, has driven unprecedented economic activity across transportation, retail, and tourism sectors, according to official data released this week. The 2026 Lunar New Year period (February 15–23) saw 121 million railway passenger trips nationwide, with a historic single-day record of 18.73 million journeys on February 23 – an 11.5% increase from 2025 levels.
Transportation Networks Strain Under Demand
To accommodate travelers blending family reunions, migrant worker returns, and tourism, railways operated 12,380 daily trains. Innovations included discounted fares and dedicated migrant worker services. Freight operations remained robust, moving 85.38 million tonnes of cargo while maintaining critical international supply routes like the China-Europe Railway Express.
Consumer Spending Hits New Highs
Ministry of Commerce figures reveal an 8.6% year-on-year increase in daily retail and catering sales during the holiday's first four days. Trade-in programs spurred nearly 28.9 million consumer transactions, generating ¥198 billion ($27.5 billion) in sales. Automotive upgrades accounted for ¥100.5 billion ($13.96 billion), with smart and eco-friendly vehicles dominating purchases.
Entertainment and Tourism Rebound
The film Pegasus 3 led a ¥5.75 billion ($828.65 million) box office surge, drawing 120 million moviegoers. Tourism showed particular strength, with international flight bookings to China during the holiday period soaring 400% compared to 2025 levels, signaling renewed global interest in Chinese cultural experiences.
