Jiangsu province is set to welcome its inaugural spring break for primary and secondary school students amid pleasant spring scenery. According to data from Trip.com Group Limited, travel bookings by Jiangsu users during the spring break period (April 1–6) have increased by 93% compared to the same period last year. Nanjing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou emerged as the top three destinations with the highest growth rates.
For Jiangsu travelers, the top 10 popular destinations are Nanjing, Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou, Xi'an, Yangzhou, Xuzhou, and Wuhan. Among these, Nanjing saw a 67% year-on-year rise in spring break bookings. The city’s top 10 favored destinations include Nanjing itself, Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Jingdezhen, Xi'an, Luoyang, Wuhan, Huangshan, and Suzhou.
Compared to last year’s Qingming holiday, several "dark horse destinations" showed remarkable booking growth this spring break. For Jiangsu users, Beijing led with a 466% year-on-year surge, followed by Shanghai (up 113%) and Hangzhou (up 135%). Xi'an and Wuhan also joined the list as newly popular destinations this year, contributing to overall market growth.
Among travelers from Nanjing, bookings to Beijing grew by 325%, Shanghai by 104%, and Hangzhou by 79%, placing these cities at the forefront of growth. Newly popular destinations such as Jingdezhen, Xi'an, Luoyang, and Huangshan have become emerging favorites for holiday travel.
In response to the spring break, Trip.com Group Limited has curated nearly 100 travel products emphasizing three innovative directions. The first is immersive study tours that bring textbook content to life, including NPC-led theatrical explanations at Du Fu Thatched Cottage, archaeological experiences at Sanxingdui, and detailed audio-guided tours at the Nanjing Museum. Hands-on cultural activities such as pottery figurine making, fish lantern night tours, Wanggezhuang steamed bun crafting, and shadow puppet plays allow children to “touch history with their hands.”
The second focus is on significantly enhancing family-friendly services. These include child-specific amenities such as kids' breakfasts, cultural souvenir gifts, Hanfu styling, and sailing trips, combining “ritual and practicality” to create memorable experiences. Small group tours—capped at 8, 9, 15, or 20 participants—ensure personalized attention for each child. Additionally, tour guides skilled in entertainment, bilingual communication, and family interaction techniques have become standard.
The third innovation involves technology-enhanced experiences. Many products now incorporate digital tools like wireless earphones, XR immersive experiences (e.g., exploring the Terracotta Army), family activity booklets, and interactive check-ins to boost engagement. Seasonal themes such as cherry blossom viewing and flower terrace landscapes are also integrated to meet families' photography and aesthetic preferences.
Through this spring break initiative, Trip.com aims to drive long-term industry upgrades in family travel. By analyzing platform data, the company helps travel agencies identify key demands of family customers—such as flexible schedules, minimal relocation, and inclusive breakfasts—and guides resource allocation accordingly. Successful service elements, such as “activity books + earphones + cultural souvenirs,” are being modularized into replicable product templates.
Transparent commitments like “zero shopping stops, no extra fees,” “24-hour private transfers,” and “15% seat vacancy rate” are also introduced to enhance family trust in group tours. A company representative stated that beyond aggregating and promoting nearly 100 family-oriented products, the platform is fostering in-depth supply-side reform through standardized guidelines, content empowerment, service design, and policy support. “We are evolving from a platform connecting users with products to an ecosystem builder for family travel, making each journey a 'second classroom' for children's growth,” the representative added.
The spring break has also spurred demand for long-haul trips, with all-inclusive travel becoming a popular choice for families. Trip.com’s family-themed rooms, promoted as “playgrounds inside guest rooms,” are now available in over 4,000 high-star hotels across 32 provincial-level regions. During the spring break, advance bookings for family-themed rooms in 25 cities—including Suzhou, Chengdu, and Shanghai—increased by 21% month-on-month. IP-themed room types, such as HAPE toy rooms and Nailong family rooms, have been well received.
To address the common issue of cramped single rooms or expensive double rooms, family rooms with extra beds have seen a 28% higher conversion rate than standard rooms. In Kunming, three five-star hotels recently upgraded their facilities to include bunk bed family rooms in preparation for the spring break influx.
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