China's cultural and tourism market grew steadily over the 2026 May Day holiday, with 325 million domestic trips (+3.6% year-on-year) and about 27 billion (in U.S. dollars) in spending (+2.9%). Public cultural venues hosted 49,400 events drawing 88 million visits, while nighttime tourism saw 80.41 million visits (+6.44%). The performance market also surged, with 32,000 shows generating 362 million (in U.S. dollars) in revenue (+14.66%).
The data highlights the sector's rising economic weight, accounting for 4.61% (culture) and 4.35% (tourism) of GDP, and a broader shift toward service-led growth, as consumers increasingly favor travel and experience-driven spending. ■
