As the year draws to a close, data from multiple online travel platforms shows that New Year holiday bookings have begun, with winter break and Lunar New Year reservations also gaining momentum ahead of schedule.
The 2026 New Year holiday, offering two extra days compared to 2025, is expected to drive a multiplier effect in cultural and tourism consumption. According to Tuniu's latest booking data, over 50% of travelers opt for nearby destinations for New Year celebrations. Families with "post-80s" and "post-90s" parents, as well as "post-00s" young travelers, prioritize festive atmospheres, accounting for over 80% of holiday bookings.
Tongcheng Travel reports that searches for "New Year" and "holiday" surged by 280% MoY in the past month. Flight and hotel bookings for the New Year period have risen nearly 30% YoY. Qunar's data reveals that hotel orders in several popular domestic cities during January 1–3, 2026, have tripled YoY.
Group tours are also booming. Spring Tour reports a 60% YoY increase in New Year bookings, with domestic and outbound travel both up over 50%. Ice and snow or warm winter themes are popular across all age groups.
On December 12, 2025, Harbin’s Sun Island Snow Expo unveiled a massive 16-meter-high snow sculpture, "Celebrating the New Year," marking the start of winter tourism.
The New Year holiday continues to highlight "ice-snow tourism" and "warm-weather escapes." Tongcheng Travel notes strong demand for flights to Harbin, Changchun, and other snowy destinations, with prices doubling in some cases. Harbin Ice and Snow World’s ticket presales soared, with New Year’s Eve tickets making up over 55% of total bookings. Nearby accommodations also topped national rankings.
Warm-weather destinations like Sanya and Guangzhou saw a 36% MoY rise in flight bookings. Meanwhile, New Year concerts boosted local tourism—Nanning’s hotel bookings surged 17-fold YoY, surpassing Shanghai and Beijing to rank among the top three destinations.
For those seeking overseas trips, combining three leave days with the holiday creates an eight-day break. Outbound travel bookings are up 30% YoY, with South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore leading the pack. Flights to Seoul surged 3.3-fold YoY, while Vietnam saw a 3.2-fold increase. Long-haul destinations like Egypt and Spain also doubled in popularity.
Russia’s visa-free policy has driven a 60% MoY rise in Moscow-bound flights, with hotel bookings up 50%. Compared to Lunar New Year prices, New Year travel is significantly cheaper—flights to South Korea and Vietnam are discounted by over 40%.
Winter break and Lunar New Year bookings are already underway. Post-holiday travel peaks from February 12–22, 2026, with family-friendly destinations like Maldives and Thailand in high demand. Spring Tour reports a nearly 50% YoY increase in Lunar New Year bookings, with Russia’s aurora tours topping outbound preferences.
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