Chinese Tourists Set New Overseas Travel Records During Extended Lunar New Year Break
Chinese tourists are embarking on unprecedented international journeys during this year's extended Lunar New Year holiday, with travel agencies reporting massive surges to destinations like Russia, Australia, Thailand, and South Korea. In a significant shift, Japan has experienced a dramatic decline in popularity among Chinese holidaymakers, marking a notable change in travel patterns.
The Extended Spring Festival Holiday
This year's Lunar New Year celebration, known as the Spring Festival, spans nine days from February 15th—one day longer than usual—to welcome the Year of the Horse. The extended break has encouraged millions to travel both domestically and internationally, with China anticipating a record 9.5 billion passenger trips during the accompanying 40-day travel period, up from 9.02 billion last year.
"Thailand has returned to being the top outbound destination thanks to its weather, when most parts of China remain cold," explained Zhou Weihong, deputy general manager at Shanghai-based Spring Tour, the travel unit of budget carrier Spring Airlines.
Economic Factors Driving Travel Decisions
Amid economic uncertainty, many Chinese travelers are seeking temporary escapes from domestic challenges. A prolonged property downturn has impacted household wealth, while uneven post-pandemic growth has contributed to job insecurity. Studies indicate Chinese consumers are increasingly prioritizing experiential spending over material goods.
"Consumers appear to have quietly moved on ... highlighting deeper shifts in how China consumes," noted consultants McKinsey in an August market update.
Surge in Popular Destinations
Travel data reveals remarkable increases to specific destinations:
- Bookings to Russia have more than doubled compared to last year
- Trips to northern Europe have similarly doubled
- Visitors to Australia have increased by over 100% year-over-year
Sienna Parulis-Cook, marketing and communications director of Dragon Trail Research, attributed Russia's popularity to Moscow's December decision to waive visas for Chinese visitors. "For the rest of the year, we'll probably see increased Chinese travel to Russia," she predicted.
Japan's Dramatic Decline
While many destinations are thriving, Japan faces a starkly different situation. Simmering political tensions and China's safety warnings to travelers have significantly reduced Japan's appeal. Flight data for 2026 shows:
- Flights between China and Japan decreased by 49.2% in the week starting February 2 compared to last year
- All flights have been cancelled on 58 routes that operated during last year's Spring Festival
- Airlines have broadened refund and change policies for Japan routes
This represents a dramatic reversal from last year, when Trip.com ranked Japan among the most popular overseas destinations alongside Thailand and other regional markets.
Broader Travel Trends
The international travel market is playing an increasingly significant role in Spring Festival travel patterns. Aviation intelligence firm IBA reported that seat capacity on international flights during the holiday period has risen 9% year-over-year, with available seat kilometers on international flights now comprising approximately half of total capacity.
Domestically, travel demand is split between warm destinations like Hainan's tropical island and snowy locations such as northeastern Changbai Mountain, reflecting diverse preferences among Chinese travelers.
