China’s Labour Day Break: A Travel Fiesta Like No Other
For the first time in the post‑pandemic era, the Labour Day holiday is turning into a massive “stay‑away” bonanza. With the country’s borders still on lockdown, millions are hitting the road right here at home, packing their bags for places they’ve only dreamed about. The result? A short‑term cash infusion that lights up the domestic economy.
Records‑Breaking Numbers
- Trip.com forecasts up to 200 million domestic trips – a new peak, eclipsing the 195 million trips that took place in 2019.
- For context, that’s almost the size of the United States’ population.
- Some people are even taking a nine‑day break—a combo of May 1‑5 plus extra leave—to cruise even farther afield.
Why So Much Johnny‑Cash?
Mass vaccinations in the biggest cities have given travelers a boost of confidence. “More people can go again,” says Nie Wen of Hwabao Trust. “Expect about 300 million travelers.”
Before COVID‑19, the Labour Day break was a golden ticket for overseas adventures – Thailand, Japan, Singapore ruled the roost. But strict quarantine rules and flight cuts have left Chinese travelers stuck on the ground for over a year.
Domestic Destinations Step In
Trip.com’s co‑founder, James Liang, points out that destinations like Sanya (Thailand’s rattle‑wake) or the scenic thrones of Xinjiang and Tibet have stepped up as the new “foreign” spots. “We’ve seen the price tags on hotel rooms climb higher than ever,” an operator in Dali confesses, “we raised rates by fifty percent.”
- Hainan’s flights are 22 % pricier than the 2019 holiday.
- Car rentals have surged over 120 % since 2019, with Western Xinjiang cities (Kashgar & Urumqi) seeing growth spikes of 500 % and nearly 400 % respectively.
When You’re Rural, You’re Elite
The long‑haul of houses in Tibet has everything booked solid: “Every one of our hotels is fully booked for the holiday,” says Cai Jinghui of the Songtsam Group.
And if you’re a car‑centric traveller, moment‑travel founder Su Shu explains that people prefer to drive with their own crew rather than let strangers sit in the same tour bus. “It’s more personal – and it keeps the adventure under control.”
Back‑to‑Nature Savannah (and Slightly Sticky)
Lin Meng from Shanghai is planning to hit Guizhou’s winding roads where the karst scenery is as striking as it is tough to reach. She hopes to escape the novelty crowds but is still ready to face the scenic stretches. “I just hope I don’t get caught up in big crowds there,” she jokes.
Meanwhile, the nightlife of all the revised “going‑to‑exception” resorts has surged. Hotels with rates above 3,000 yuan (about S$615) are in huge demand. The combination of new arrivals, higher prices, and fewer restrictions means that this massive worker holiday brand‑new record should keep the travel market on a steady upbeat beat for months to come.
