From flower-viewing with highl-tech to various folk custom experiences, tourism across China become more diversified during Qingming Festival holiday this year.
In addition to cleaning tombs to pay tribute to ancestors, Chinese people embraced the beauty of spring by going on flower-viewing excursions and immersing themselves in cultural events and folk-custom experiences, during the Qingming Festival holiday.
Flower-viewing with High-tech
From Tianjin’s crabapple festival to Wuhan’s cherry blossoms, and Chengdu’s rapeseed flower marathon to Luoyang’s hanfu-themed flower fair, springtime hotspots are drawing tourists across the country.
Social media comes alive with photos of people adorned with flower garlands, celebrating the season’s charm.
People wear traditional hanfu. (Image from CNS)
This year’s peak flower season is also being blended with the latest tech trends. In addition to the traditional flower-viewing walks, visitors to Chengdu, Sichuan province, can board fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters, soaring just a few hundred meters above the ground to take in sweeping views of the vast floral landscapes.
Data from e-commerce platform Meituan showed that the number of merchants launching “helicopter ride” and “sky-high tour” services on the platform has doubled year-on-year, and the number of group bookings for such low-altitude flight services has nearly quadrupled.
Airports in cities such as Chengdu and Shenzhen, have also tapped into the flower-themed tourism market, launching a growing number of routes for flying over blossoms since March.
More than A Leisure Activity
Tourism, for Chinese people today, is more than just a leisure activity. It has become a people-centered industry, an emerging pillar of China’s economy.
Public spaces, from cultural districts and scenic zones to museums and lifestyle hubs, have come alive with a mix of tradition and the latest trends. People are rediscovering the poetic beauty of spring at music festivals, street dance performances, pop-up markets, food fairs, and immersive storytelling sessions in theme parks.
Furthermore, various high-tech and innovative devices, including artificial intelligence (AI), robot dogs, 3D digital images, and VR shows, enhance visitors’ experience during the Qingming Festival. Besides, the tech-enhanced attractions like NPC-guided tours, acrobatics, interactive learning, and outdoor sports have added depth and flair to traveling during the season.
Chinese Tourism Academy data point to a new trend — about 10 percent people performing Qingming rituals also engage in folk activities. Putting on hanfu to visit museums or performing rituals has become a “spring practice” for many young travelers, while wellness-focused camping, “stress-relief” farming, and trying out seasonal foods have enriched the rural tourism experience.
Written By Sha Liu, additional reporting by China Daily, CGTN, Global Times.
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