During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, various regions introduced diverse cultural and tourism products, services, and activities, with the overall national cultural and tourism market remaining stable and orderly. According to calculations from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Data Center, during the 8-day holiday period, domestic trips nationwide reached 888 million, an increase of 123 million compared to the 7-day National Day holiday in 2024; total domestic tourism spending reached 809.006 billion yuan, an increase of 108.189 billion yuan compared to the 7-day National Day holiday in 2024.

The combination of National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival boosted market activity. Red tourism sites across the country innovated exhibition methods and experience activities, with popular destinations including Jinggang Mountain in Jiangxi, Yan’an in Shaanxi, Orange Isle in Changsha, Hunan, and South Lake in Jiaxing, Zhejiang attracting large numbers of visitors. Citizens and tourists cultivated patriotic sentiments through their visits. Harvest and Mid-Autumn Festival themes were particularly popular, with Huangling Scenic Area’s «Autumn Harvest Culture Season» in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi, and Shanghai Planetarium’s «Moon Walk» being widely welcomed. The Hubei Provincial Museum and Shenyang Palace Museum hosted special Mid-Autumn Festival night events, while Changbai Mountain Scenic Area in Jilin introduced «Slow Travel Autumn Appreciation» hiking routes. Urban and rural consumption scenarios worked together effectively, with Changsha’s commercial districts in Hunan integrating shopping and performances, and Sandu Shui Autonomous County in Guizhou connecting long-table banquets with creative cultural markets through «Village Marathon» events. Inbound tourism experienced a surge, with ancient towns like Ciqikou in Chongqing and Xi’an’s Tang Dynasty Ever-bright City seeing increased numbers of foreign tourists, who particularly enjoyed cultural tours and shopping trips.

The integration of culture and tourism created innovative experience scenarios. Intangible cultural heritage experiences were highly popular, including Nanjing’s «Hundred Opera Lantern Festival» in Xinanli, Jiangsu, Tongling’s iron fireworks display in Anhui, and Luoyang’s ancient fire-spitting folk custom at Longmen Ancient Street in Henan. Beijing hosted the 9th China Opera Culture Week, featuring outstanding performances of Kunqu opera, Ganju opera, and Qinqiang opera. Holiday performances and exhibitions were particularly impressive, with the National Art Museum of China’s «National Freehand Brushwork Art Exhibition,» China Oriental Performing Arts Group’s dance drama «Eternal Palace,» and Beijing People’s Art Theatre’s drama «Thunderstorm» attracting large audiences. Technology-enabled new scenarios and experiences, including Shenzhen’s robot-themed streets in Longgang, Beijing’s robot-themed restaurants and 4S stores in Yizhuang, and Suizhou’s ginkgo valley water screen movie in Hubei, allowed visitors to experience the charm of «culture and tourism + technology.»

Public benefit and convenience measures stimulated consumption potential. More than 29,000 cultural and tourism activities were held nationwide, with over 480 million yuan in consumption subsidies distributed. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei «Scenic Spot Joint Ticket» promoted regional sharing of cultural and tourism resources. Government canteens and parking lots in Guangdong, Gansu, Chongqing, and other areas opened to tourists, while scenic spots like Laojun Mountain in Henan and Jincheng’s Situ Ancient Town in Shanxi offered affordable dining options, providing warm and thoughtful services for visitors. The Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu, launched a new generation of digital guide systems, while scenic spots like Hangzhou’s West Lake and Guizhou’s Huajiang Canyon Bridge implemented smart reservation and congestion warning technologies, providing real-time information for tourists and enhancing service efficiency through intelligent management.

Jinggang Mountain

Jinggang Mountain is a significant historical and cultural site in Jiangxi Province, China, renowned as the birthplace of the Chinese Communist Revolution. It served as the first rural base area for the Red Army, led by Mao Zedong, after its retreat there following the failed 1927 Autumn Harvest Uprising. Today, it is a national scenic area and a symbol of revolutionary heritage, attracting visitors for its historical importance and natural landscapes.

Yan’an

Yan’an is a city in Shaanxi province, China, renowned as the endpoint of the Long March and the headquarters of the Chinese Communist Party from 1935 to 1948. It served as the center of the communist revolution, where Mao Zedong and other leaders developed their political ideology and military strategy. This period cemented Yan’an’s status as a symbolic birthplace of the People’s Republic of China.

Orange Isle

Orange Isle, also known as Orange Island, is a large sandbar island located in the Xiang River in Changsha, China. Historically, it is renowned as the place where Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People’s Republic of China, wrote his famous poem «Qinyuan Spring·Changsha» in 1925. Today, it is a popular public park and scenic area, famous for its youthful statue of Mao Zedong and its lush orange groves.

South Lake

South Lake is a scenic freshwater lake located in the historic city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. It is famously known as the site where the Communist Party of China held its first National Congress in 1921, an event which formally founded the Party. Today, it is a major patriotic education base and a popular tourist attraction, featuring a replica of the «Red Boat» where the meeting took place.

Huangling Scenic Area

The Huangling Scenic Area in Jiangxi Province is famous for its traditional Huizhou-style «Hanging Villages,» where homes are built on steep hillsides with wooden frames extending over the landscape. Historically, these villages were established over 500 years ago by people seeking refuge from wars, utilizing the unique construction to maximize arable land in the mountainous terrain. Today, it is a popular tourist destination showcasing ancient rural architecture and agricultural practices against a dramatic natural backdrop.

Shanghai Planetarium

The Shanghai Planetarium is a major science museum that opened in 2021 in the Lingang area of Shanghai. It is an extension of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum and is one of the largest planetariums in the world. Its distinctive, futuristic architecture, designed without straight lines or right angles, is inspired by the astronomical principles of orbital motion.

Hubei Provincial Museum

The Hubei Provincial Museum, located in Wuhan, is one of China’s leading museums, renowned for its extensive collection of artifacts from the ancient Zeng and Chu states. Its most famous exhibits are the bronze artifacts and the complete set of bianzhong (bronze chime bells) unearthed from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, dating back over 2,400 years. The museum showcases the rich cultural history of the Chu region, highlighting its unique artistic and ritual traditions.

Shenyang Palace Museum

The Shenyang Palace Museum, also known as the Mukden Palace, is an imperial palace complex built in the early 17th century during the Qing Dynasty. It served as the residence for the founding emperors Nurhaci and Hong Taiji before the capital moved to Beijing. Today, it stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcasing a unique blend of Manchu and Chinese architectural styles.