--- title: "China's Golden Week Travel Numbers Surge Despite Cautious Consumer Spending" url: https://newscentral.site/china-s-golden-week-travel-numbers-surge-despite-cautious-consumer/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "World" published: 2026-10-07T13:18:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-07T15:57:17.737Z id: a6b4c00e-41fb-4047-bf8c-d21cc2e3fc21 source: "DW English https://www.dw.com/en/china-s-golden-week-reveals-cautious-consumer-spending-despite-travel-surge/a-79577254?maca=en-rss-en-world-4025-rdf" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/china-s-golden-week-travel-numbers-surge-despite-cautious-consumer/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # China's Golden Week Travel Numbers Surge Despite Cautious Consumer Spending Millions of travelers returned home from abroad during the 13-day holiday period, bringing back stories of moderate spending. As China's Golden Week holiday period came to a close, millions of travelers returned home from their trips abroad, bringing back stories of cautious consumer spending despite a surge in travel numbers. Among those who made the journey was Ya Xi, who recently arrived in Shanghai after a trip to Southeast Asia. To save money on her flight, she opted for a late-night arrival, which allowed her to book a cheaper ticket. According to official figures, 31.19 million passengers traveled during the 13-day holiday period that followed the Mid-Autumn Festival and China's National Day. This number represents a significant increase in travel, but early data suggests that spending per traveler has been more moderate than expected. Citigroup analysts have noted a flat passenger traffic trend, with only a 0.1% year-over-year rise in traffic volume during the first four days of the holiday period. Chinese consumers are increasingly choosing what they spend their money on, rather than splurging freely. According to Lizzi C. Lee, who studies China's economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, people are willing to make purchases, but they're being more careful about how much and where they spend it. Lee notes that this caution doesn't mean consumers are staying out of the market altogether - on the contrary, they're willing to splurge on experiences like travel, concerts, or restaurants if they think it's worth it. However, in other areas, they'll cut back aggressively to make ends meet. This trend is evident even among high-profile individuals, including government leaders: Xi's recent Golden Week trip, for instance, saw her spend more on experiences and food, setting a 200-yuan budget per meal - but also economizing elsewhere. The trend of cautious consumer spending in China's Golden Week celebrations is not a new phenomenon. Last year's holiday season saw the lowest average spending per trip in three years, with consumers shelling out around 911.04 yuan (approximately €121) per trip. Experts attribute this decline to consumers' reluctance to spend. According to Wang, Beijing believes that Chinese consumers are hesitant to part with their money due to economic uncertainty. However, he suggests that the issue may be more complex than just consumer hesitation. Wang points out that while savings in Chinese banks have been increasing, a significant portion of these savings is held by a small percentage of the population. The majority of Chinese people do not have sufficient savings to invest or spend during holiday periods. The widening wealth gap in China's society is seen as a major contributor to this issue. Wang suggests that Beijing may be aware of the problem but has chosen not to address it. Lee, an economist, offers a different perspective on the matter. She believes that weak spending during Golden Week is largely due to consumer confidence issues. The ongoing property market correction and its impact on household wealth have contributed to soft income expectations and job security concerns. The new travel restrictions implemented by China's government have not deterred Chinese tourists from traveling abroad during Golden Week. Despite initial expectations that domestic travel would surge due to the tightened rules, many citizens are still choosing to venture out of the country. Some analysts had predicted a significant decrease in international travel, but the numbers suggest otherwise. The new regulations, which came into effect on September 15, allow authorities to verify travel purposes and request additional information from travelers deemed at risk to national security or industrial/technological security. The combination of these factors has contributed to cautious consumer spending habits among Chinese tourists, despite their continued desire for international travel. This trend is likely to have ongoing implications for the global economy. --- Source: [DW English](https://www.dw.com/en/china-s-golden-week-reveals-cautious-consumer-spending-despite-travel-surge/a-79577254?maca=en-rss-en-world-4025-rdf) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/china-s-golden-week-travel-numbers-surge-despite-cautious-consumer/