Travel Peaks During China's Golden Week While Consumer Spending Remains Cautious

The 13-day Golden Week holiday following the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day attracted a record number of trips on China's railway network, yet overall passenger volume grew by just 0.1% in the initial four days compared with the previous year. Younger travelers, exemplified by a mid-20s passenger who spent 5,000 yuan on a flight, are allocating larger portions of their budget to travel and meals while cutting back elsewhere.

Experts observe a shift toward selective spending on experiences deemed worthwhile, such as concerts, restaurants, and technology, rather than broad consumption. The government distributed coupons worth more than 310 million yuan in an effort to boost domestic demand, but analysts describe the measure as an outdated response to a persistent problem. Persistent wealth gaps and a lingering property market downturn continue to dampen consumer confidence, keeping average spending per trip low despite higher travel volumes.