Chinese travelers are resorting to a new kind of holiday
By Chen Tong
03:00

An increasing number of China's travelers are looking to visit one nice place for a few days instead of trying to hit several tourist spots during the National Day holiday.

A survey by hotel reservation site Booking.com found that 45 percent of travelers it surveyed prefer a sea-side holiday or one pleasant place to cozy up for a few days. The survey also showed that urban resorts are first choices for National Day holiday travelers this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland said that 85 percent of their customers are from Shanghai and the rest are from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

"We call this stay-cation, many Shanghainese are not convenient to leave Shanghai, so many of them drive here to have their holidays," said Paul Hugentobler, general manager of InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland.

Meanwhile, a report from market research provider Mintel showed a change of travel preference in China. The report said that Chinese tourists increasingly prefer a good dose of nature to avoid the crowds. Research engine Baidu's data also showed that scenic spots including Taishan Mountain, Huashan Mountain, and Sichuan's Jiuzhaigou Valley are top clicks for the National Day Holiday this year.

"Travelling for Chinese consumers is more about family bondage and strength relationship with friends. People are looking for wellness through travelling, they want relaxation and they will go back to resorts," said Saskia Zhao, senior research analyst of Mintel.