As the Qingming Festival holiday commenced on Thursday, millions across China took part in ancestral tributes and enjoyed the blossoming spring season. Known as Tomb Sweeping Day, the Qingming Festival fell on April 4 this year, marking a time for families to honor their ancestors and reconnect with nature.
According to the Ministry of Transport, an estimated 297 million passenger trips were made on the first day of the three-day holiday. This significant movement of people highlights the cultural importance of the festival, as families travel to pay their respects at ancestral gravesites and partake in traditional rituals.
Data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs revealed that 57,600 funeral institutions nationwide hosted approximately 24.73 million visitors on Thursday, an increase of 9.76 million from last year. This surge underscores a growing engagement in traditional practices and remembrance activities.
Beyond the solemnity of honoring ancestors, the Qingming Festival also offers an opportunity for leisure and enjoyment of the spring scenery. On Thursday, ticket bookings in popular cities surged 1.3-fold compared to the previous year. Hotel bookings in destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou nearly doubled, as reported by Chinese online travel agency Qunar.
The blending of reverence for the past with appreciation for the present embodies the spirit of the Qingming Festival. As families gather to sweep tombs and offer sacrifices, they also embrace the renewal that spring brings, participating in outdoor activities and cultural events.
This annual observance not only reinforces familial bonds and cultural heritage but also provides a boost to domestic travel and local economies. With more people engaging in both traditional and modern festivities, the Qingming Festival continues to be a significant and evolving aspect of Chinese society.
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Honoring ancestors and spring outings mark Qingming Festival holidays
cgtn.com
