A bird's-eye view of the iconic West Lake in Hangzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: visithangzhou]

The 2026 Spring Festival holiday is shaping up to be the busiest on record, as travel bookings enter peak season and demand surpasses last year's levels.

With many travelers combining five days of leave into a 15-day break, the market is seeing a boom in family trips, rising off-season domestic excursions, and growing interest from foreign visitors seeking an authentic Chinese New Year experience.

Data from platforms such as Qunar show that since mid-January, searches and bookings for Spring Festival travel have exceeded those of 2025. Hangzhou stands out as a top destination for young travelers extending their holidays and a popular stop for inbound tourists looking for a festive atmosphere.

For Hangzhou residents, travel plans are already in full swing. Ice-and-snow destinations such as Harbin and Changchun remain popular, alongside warmer getaways including Hainan, Yunnan and Guangxi.

Family travel continues to diversify. Households with younger children are favoring island vacations while families with teenagers tend to prefer culture-focused city walks.

The extra-long holiday is also boosting outbound and inbound travel. Visa-free destinations such as Singapore, Turkiye and Sri Lanka are seeing strong demand, while inbound bookings from Russia, South Korea and Southeast Asia are rising sharply.

Industry data suggest that flexible departure dates could cut travel costs significantly, encouraging more travelers to take advantage of what may become China's "hottest" Spring Festival travel season yet.

A boat ripples along the water at Xixi National Wetland Park. [Photo/WeChat account: visithangzhou]