Over 100 million passenger trips are expected to take place across China during Dragon Boat Festival, according to data from online travel agency Trip.com. This marks a return to pre-COVID levels. Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Nanjing, Chongqing, Changsha, Shenzhen, Qingdao, and Xi’an are the top ten most popular destinations for travellers.
The length of the festival varies and, this year, Dragon Boat Festival takes place on 14 June and will last three days. As it is shorter than May’s five-day Labour Day holiday, many tourists will opt for more local trips. Half of travellers have booked trips within 300 kilometres of their home, and over 60% have chosen to travel within the province they live in.
Women account for 57% of those who have already booked trips for the holiday. In terms of age, post-90s are the most active, accounting for 39% of travellers; closely followed by post-80s at 30%. Travel among the post-00s age group, i.e. Gen-Z, has increased by almost tenfold compared to the same period in 2020, surpassing the post-70s age group.
Dragon Boat Festival dates back to ancient Chinese traditions and occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar. People usually reunite with their family and eat zongzi 粽子, a glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaf.
Read more about Chinese festivals:
