The Dragon Boat Festival, coinciding with Children’s Day on June 1st, is set to drive a 152% increase in family travel, according to data from travel platform Mafengwo. This year’s festival, which falls on a “long weekend,” sees most travelers opting for short trips and self-driving tours. Mafengwo’s data shows that in the past week, the popularity of “surrounding tours” has risen by an average of over 50%, while interest in “self-driving” has surged by over 65%.
Family Travel Trends
The overlap with Children’s Day has made family travelers the main force behind the Dragon Boat Festival travel rush. In addition to theme parks, zoos, and cultural venues, experiencing traditional Dragon Boat Festival customs has become a popular choice for families.
Top Destinations
Popular Cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou lead both in terms of popular destinations and source cities for travelers.
Self-Driving Routes: Beijing tourists favor self-driving trips to Inner Mongolia’s Hulunbuir Grassland, Ulanqab Volcano, or exploring ancient architecture in Shanxi, with “Shanxi self-driving” seeing a 183% increase in popularity over the past week.
Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai Region: Tourists from this area prefer routes like Qiandao Lake, the Fuchun River, and the southern Zhejiang mountains and waters connecting Quzhou, Lishui, Wenzhou, and Taizhou.
Sichuan-Chongqing Region: “Western Sichuan self-driving” has seen a 250% increase in popularity, with tourists seeking stunning landscapes in Western Sichuan or enjoying local delicacies in Leshan.
Guangdong Region: Popular choices include Chaoshan culinary exploration, coastal drives around Huizhou’s Shuangyue Bay, and Yangjiang’s Hailing Island.
Family-Friendly Attractions
Mogan Mountain: Tops the list of popular family-friendly destinations, with a 266% increase in popularity and a 100% rise in “Mogan Mountain homestay” searches.
Theme Parks and Zoos: Beijing Universal Resort and Shanghai Disneyland follow closely, attracting large numbers of family visitors.
Cultural and Folklore Experiences
Participating in traditional customs and experiencing intangible cultural heritage is a popular choice for both families and young travelers. Activities like dragon boat racing have seen an 83% increase in related searches on Mafengwo. Cities like Foshan in Guangdong, Chongqing, Tongren in Guizhou, and Huaihua in Hunan offer spectacular dragon boat races.
Experiencing Local Culture
Ancient Towns: Rich in cultural heritage, these towns offer immersive experiences of traditional customs. Staying in local homestays and participating in activities like making zongzi (rice dumplings), sewing sachets, hanging mugwort, and weaving colorful ropes are popular.
Popular Ancient Towns: Wuzhen in Jiaxing leads the list, followed by Nanxun in Huzhou and Furong Town in Western Hunan. Xijiang Town in Guizhou, known for its unique ethnic风情 and rich experiences, has seen a 133% increase in popularity.
International Travel
Despite the short three-day holiday, the growing number of visa-free destinations still allows for spontaneous international trips. Visa-free coastal destinations like Singapore, Jeju Island in South Korea, Phuket in Thailand, Penang, Sabah, and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia have seen significant increases in popularity. Searches for “Jeju Island” travel guides have surged by over 280%, while “Singapore family travel” has seen a 340% increase.
AI-Powered Travel Planning
AI tools are also facilitating last-minute travel plans. Mafengwo’s data shows a significant increase in travelers using “AI Xiao Ma” to plan international trips, with over half being family travelers. Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand are the most queried countries, with local cultural experiences and food recommendations being the most sought-after information.
Conclusion
The Dragon Boat Festival, combined with Children’s Day, is set to drive a significant surge in family travel, with popular destinations and activities offering a mix of cultural experiences, natural exploration, and family fun. Both domestic and international travel are on the rise, supported by efficient AI-powered travel planning tools.
