China's 2026 Spring Festival is rewriting history books with record-breaking travel numbers and consumer spending as millions embrace an unprecedented nine-day holiday. This extended break has turbocharged family reunions, leisure travel, and economic activity across sectors. 🏮✨
Railways Hit Overdrive
The China State Railway Group reported 15 million passenger trips on Friday alone, with 1,469 extra trains deployed. Total Spring Festival train tickets sold through 12306 platform have reached 298 million as of this morning – equivalent to moving the entire US population nine times over! 🚆
Silver Economy Takes Flight
This year's standout trend? A 160% surge in air travel by seniors aged 60+. Many first-time flyers are visiting children in cities like Beijing, where 20% of inbound travelers are over 50. Travel platform Qunar calls it the 'grandparent express' effect. 👵✈️
9.5 Billion Trips and Counting
From Feb 2-Mar 13, China anticipates 9.5 billion cross-regional journeys – enough to send every person on Earth traveling 1.2 times! The extended holiday lets people split time between family duties and leisure trips, creating a spending boom in hospitality and services. 💼🌆
