As the New Year's holiday approaches, DiDi Global Inc. released data indicating that a convergence of commuting, New Year's Eve gatherings, travel, and intercity trips is expected to cause the evening ride-hailing peak on December 31st to begin early at 3 PM, lasting until 8 PM. The highest demand is anticipated between 5 PM and 7 PM, with total domestic ride-hailing requests projected to surpass 80 million for the day.
For New Year's Day in 2026, travel patterns are expected to shift from the high-energy celebrations of New Year's Eve to a more relaxed and leisurely pace on the first day of the year, reflecting a new trend that balances a sense of occasion with a high-quality experience. In the half-hour leading up to the New Year, DiDi ride requests are forecast to increase by 11% compared to the previous year.
Furthermore, between 9 AM and 5 PM on January 1st, the volume of DiDi calls is projected to remain consistently higher than on New Year's Day 2025, with a significant 18% year-over-year surge expected between 10 AM and 12 PM.
"Escaping the cold by heading south" and "chasing the snow by going north" are set to be the dominant travel themes during the holiday period. Cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Qingdao, and Kunming are anticipated to see both high absolute demand for DiDi rides and substantial year-over-year growth. Meanwhile, destinations including Linfen, Qiqihar, Urumqi, Harbin, and Changchun are gaining further popularity, with ride-hailing demand expected to jump over 40% compared to the previous year's holiday.
The practice of taking three days off to create an eight-day holiday has also significantly boosted self-drive demand. DiDi's car rental bookings for the New Year period have skyrocketed by 243% year-over-year, with over 70% of users picking up their vehicles early to begin their trips, and 50% of users planning road trips lasting between two and four days.
The opening of the Ice and Snow World and ski resorts in Xinjiang has further fueled the popularity of "ice and snow tourism." Car rental orders in Harbin are forecast to be five times the level of the same period in 2025, while orders in Altay are expected to surge to seven times the previous year's figure.
To express gratitude to drivers for their service during the holiday, DiDi is offering multiple incentives, including commission-free cards and completion bonuses, throughout the New Year break.
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