China's 2026 Spring Festival celebrations have delivered a powerful economic boost, with consumption and travel figures reaching new heights. Recent data shows domestic trips during the holiday period increased by 18% compared to 2025, while box office revenues surpassed 7.5 billion yuan ($1.05 billion USD) – a record for Lunar New Year cinema earnings.
Major cities reported 92% hotel occupancy rates, with popular destinations like Harbin's ice festival and Sanya's tropical resorts operating at full capacity. E-commerce platforms saw a 35% year-on-year increase in festive gift purchases, while digital payment volumes through platforms like WeChat Pay and Alipay jumped 28%.
Cultural integration played a key role in this year's celebrations. Traditional temple fairs in Beijing incorporated augmented reality experiences, while Shanghai's light shows blended dragon motifs with quantum computing visualizations. The tourism surge comes as China continues to implement its dual circulation economic strategy, with domestic consumption accounting for 65% of Q1 2026 GDP growth projections.
Business analysts note the strong performance indicates restored consumer confidence following recent market adjustments. 'The Spring Festival numbers demonstrate remarkable economic resilience,' said Minghua Financial Group chief economist Zhang Wei. 'This consumption momentum could add 0.8-1.2 percentage points to our annual growth forecasts.'
