From Night Markets to Netflix Binges: How China’s Youth Are Fueling a Service Economy Revolution
This summer, the Chinese mainland isn’t just sweating under the sun—it’s setting records in tourism, entertainment, and sports spending, proving service industries are the economy’s new rockstars . Over 37,000 cultural events lit up the season, from neon-drenched night tours to family road trips across northwest China’s rugged landscapes. Domestic tourism searches for flights and hotels jumped 20% YoY, while car rentals hit all-time highs , with Ctrip reporting a 50% surge in single-day orders.
Sports Fever & Silver Screen Heatwaves
Post-Olympic fever drove badminton bookings up 90% and tennis group purchases up 172%, per Meituan data. Meanwhile, movie theaters raked in 10B yuan ($1.4B) as blockbusters dominated screens . 'Self-driving trips are the new weekend anthem,' says Ctrip’s Song Zhen, highlighting a 40% YoY spike in car rentals.
Policy Push for the Service Economy
Backed by a State Council blueprint targeting 20 key service sectors—from elderly care to AI-driven tourism—experts predict sustained growth. IMF veteran Zhu Min notes: 'Rising incomes and urbanization are rewriting China’s spending playlist.' H1 data confirms the trend: service sales grew 7.5%, outpacing goods by 4.3 percentage points .
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. Over 37,000 cultural events lit up the season, from neon-drenched night tours to family road trips across northwest China’s rugged landscapes. Domestic tourism searches for flights and hotels jumped 20% YoY, while car rentals hit all-time highs 
, with Ctrip reporting a 50% surge in single-day orders.
. 'Self-driving trips are the new weekend anthem,' says Ctrip’s Song Zhen, highlighting a 40% YoY spike in car rentals.
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