The record nine-day 2026 Spring Festival holiday has boosted both outbound and inbound travel, according to a recent report from travel platform Qunar. Outbound bookings have surpassed 2025 levels, with travel splitting into two peaks — one before the holiday and another after Chinese New Year’s Eve. Thailand, South Korea, and Malaysia remained top short-haul destinations, while long-haul trips to Egypt, Spain, Australia, Norway, and New Zealand saw bookings surge by 1.5 to over three times. Inbound tourism also grew strongly, with international bookings for domestic flights in China rising 70% YoY. Travelers from Spain and Italy increased by more than eight and four times, respectively. While Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou remained popular, cities like Zhengzhou saw a 6.3-fold increase in foreign visitors.