As millions across the Chinese mainland paid tribute to loved ones during this year's Qingming Festival, spring outings and travel surged to record levels – blending tradition with modern wanderlust.
Ancestral Tributes Meet Wanderlust
Over 24.7 million passenger trips flooded 57,600 funeral institutions on Thursday alone, a jump of 9.76 million from 2023. Families cleaned tombs, burned incense, and left offerings 🕯️, keeping ancient customs alive while honoring those who came before.
Spring Travel Boom 💨
The holiday sparked a nationwide travel rush:
- 297+ million trips via all transport modes
- 1.3X surge in event tickets
- Hotel bookings doubled in hotspots like Beijing and Shanghai
Travel platform Qunar called it a 'dual-purpose holiday' – quiet reflection by morning, cherry blossom selfies by afternoon 🌸📸.
Reference(s):
Honoring ancestors and spring outings mark Qingming Festival holidays
cgtn.com
