Chinese Golden Week 2026 Sees Longer Trips, Asia Destinations Surge

Extended Golden Week Drives Early Departures

Chinese travellers are planning extended breaks for Golden Week 2026, combining it with the Mid-Autumn Festival for holidays of up to 13 days, according to Trip.com Group data released on 21 September 2026. This trend has led to earlier departures, with over half of outbound flight bookings made for before the official holiday start on 1 October.

Daily departure volumes are expected to peak on 25 September and 30 September. The average trip length is projected to exceed nine days, as travellers use the extended period for more substantial holidays, shifting away from last-minute bookings to avoid peak travel rush.

Multi-Destination and Long-Haul Travel Surges

This year's longer holiday period is also fuelling a rise in multi-destination and long-haul travel, Trip.com Group reports. Hotel bookings for stays of seven nights or more have seen a 123% year-on-year jump. Long-haul flight bookings, particularly to gateway cities in Europe, Australia, and the United States, show double-digit year-on-year growth.

Multi-destination itineraries have increased by 84% year-on-year, reflecting a growing trend to maximise extended travel across multiple cities. Popular combinations include Singapore–Bali in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong–Sydney, and Amsterdam–Milan in Europe.

Nature Escapes and Emerging Asian Hotspots

Chinese travellers are increasingly seeking nature escapes and cultural immersion, Trip.com Group data indicates. Searches for "scenic trips" and "nature getaways" have risen by 53% year-on-year.

Domestically, coastal and high-altitude cities such as Qingdao, Lhasa, and Kashgar are growing rapidly by flight bookings, while mountainous regions like Xiangxi, Zhangjiajie, and Guilin are popular for rail travel. For outbound island holidays, Jeju and Bali rank among the top 10 most booked flight destinations.

Flight bookings to Cebu have increased by 111% year-on-year, and Phuket by 78% year-on-year. European cultural centres like Brussels and Athens also show significant year-on-year flight booking increases, particularly among younger demographics.

Inbound China and Intra-Asia Popularity

Inbound tourism to China is showing strong growth, with lesser-known cities such as Yanji, Dunhuang, and Hailar experiencing the fastest increases in flight bookings, according to Trip.com Group. Major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou continue to attract visitors from Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia.

The Mutianyu Great Wall is a top-booked attraction for overseas visitors during Golden Week, particularly via Trip.com's Beijing Express layover tour, launched in December 2024. Globally, Seoul ranks as the top holiday destination, with international flight bookings up 91% year-on-year.

Busan, Cheongju, and Daegu also show three-digit year-on-year growth, while Japan remains a favoured destination for Malaysian, Thai, and South Korean travellers.

Implications for Asian Travel Markets

The extended Golden Week period for Chinese travellers reveals a significant shift towards longer, multi-destination itineraries and a strong demand for Asian destinations.

Regions like Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Japan are direct beneficiaries, as evidenced by substantial year-on-year booking increases reported by Trip.com Group for destinations such as Seoul (91%), Cebu (111%), and Phuket (78%).

This trend suggests that travel operators and tourism boards across Asia should focus on developing multi-city packages and promoting nature-based and cultural experiences to capture this growing market segment.

Younger demographics, including Gen Z (18-24), are leading this trend, showing high growth rates for emerging destinations such as Queenstown (314%) and Auckland (276%) in New Zealand, indicating a need for diverse offerings tailored to their preferences.