During the National Day holiday, mobile communication big data platforms projected a 5% year-over-year daily average increase in overall traveler numbers. In 2026, people are clearly traveling farther than ever before, with long-distance trips gaining momentum. Where did everyone go during this holiday? China Mobile's Wutong data analysis predicted that the extended holiday period would drive long-distance travel. Domestically, the number of tourists traveling over 1,000 kilometers was expected to rise 9% compared to the same period last year, with destinations like Sichuan, Xinjiang, Yunnan, and Inner Mongolia anticipated to see visitor growth exceeding 12% year-over-year. On social platforms, discussions around topics such as National Day travel, long-distance trips, and autumn foliage tours surged 38% compared to the previous week.
Li Guanzhou, Deputy General Manager of the Data Delivery Center at China Mobile's Digital Intelligence Business Unit, noted that online booking platforms experienced peak usage before the holiday, and an analysis of nationwide mobile app usage revealed that daily active users for ticketing, transportation booking, and travel apps increased 29%, 25%, and 32% respectively compared to regular days. Big data also analyzed offline consumption during the National Day holiday, projecting a 4% increase in foot traffic at major commercial districts nationwide compared to the same period in 2025, with online payment transactions expected to grow 8% year-over-year. Hourly analysis of foot traffic trends at key commercial areas showed that 6 PM to 8 PM was the peak period for visitor flow. During the holiday, the number of shoppers at major commercial districts after 6 PM was expected to rise 16% compared to the same period in 2025. Among them, people under 40 were the main consumers, with commercial district activity particularly high in Guangdong, Shanghai, Hunan, and Chongqing.
Mobile Big Data Predicts National Day Holiday Travel and Consumption
Where to go during the National Day holiday? Communication big data platforms used large models to focus on travel and consumption hotspots, combined with AI agents for analysis and predictions. Mobile signaling, travel trajectories, platform bookings, and other big data recorded the daily clothing, food, accommodation, and transportation information of ordinary people. Overlaying this massive information onto maps produced a picture of travel and consumption during the National Day holiday.
October 2 to 5: Scenic Spots to Hit Peak Visitor Flow
Starting from September 25, light points representing travel began to illuminate on the map one after another. Broken down by time, October 2 to 5 will see peak visitor flow at major scenic spots. Within each day, 1 PM to 4 PM is the most concentrated period for scenic area foot traffic.
Combining Leave with Holidays Extends Travel Window, Long-Distance Trips Increase
The movement lines extending from the map intuitively reflect a change: people traveled farther this holiday, as combining Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day leave extended the travel window. China Mobile's Wutong data, combined with AI intelligent analysis, found that long-distance trips over 500 kilometers increased 11% compared to the same period in 2025. Transportation routes such as Shanghai to Beijing, Chengdu to Xi'an, Shenzhen to Changsha, and Beijing to Shenyang saw active personnel exchanges.
Long-Distance Travel Boosts On-Site Consumption, Remote Car Rentals Gain Popularity
Long-distance travel directly stimulated on-site service consumption. In regions like Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, and Xinjiang, remote car rentals became a choice for many people seeking in-depth travel, with daily active users of car rental apps increasing 43% on average compared to the same period in 2025. Wherever travel footsteps extend, consumption vitality is unleashed.
Primary and Secondary School Autumn Breaks Spur Family and Parent-Child Trips
In the entire travel and consumption landscape, family trips are a prominent part, with primary and secondary school autumn breaks generating a large number of parent-child outings. The number of tourists departing from Hangzhou increased 40% compared to 2025, with more than half being family trips.
Avoiding Popular Check-In Spots, Turning to Remote Places with Fewer Crowds and Beautiful Scenery
Not everyone flocked to popular check-in destinations. By combining nationwide search and destination reservation information, another group's travel choices can be seen. Places like Arxan in Inner Mongolia, Daocheng in Sichuan, Yanbian in Jilin, and Altay in Xinjiang—vast, sparsely populated areas with beautiful scenery—were favored by tourists seeking a relaxed travel experience.
Inbound Tourism Shifts from First-Tier Cities to Distinctive Small Towns
Immersive interactive experiences at red tourism sites fueled inbound tourism. It is expected that at the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Site and the Zunyi Loushanguan Scenic Area, foreign tourists will account for up to 6%. Foreign tourist growth in Yibin, Sichuan; Anqing, Anhui; Zhangjiajie, Hunan; and Ili, Xinjiang is projected to exceed 55%. Inbound tourism is shifting from first-tier cities to distinctive small towns.
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