However, domestic tourism is starting to emerge as a significant exception.
According to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 295 million journeys were made inside China during the five days of the public vacation last week to commemorate Labor Day. Compared to 2019 pre-pandemic data, this was 28% greater.
The data released by the Transport Ministry are even more astounding: 1.25 billion highway miles, 92 million train trips, and nearly 10 million air travels.
But this is happening at a time when foreign arrivals into China are still well behind 2019 levels—just 30% of what they were in 2019. Why is there a difference?
Wuzhen, a picturesque old river town within a short drive from Shanghai, is regarded as one of the best places for tourists of all stripes to visit in China. When we get there, the little pathways and historic bridges that span the narrow canals are packed with people.
Posing for pictures while wearing traditional hanfu attire is a common activity in Wuzhen, giving the impression that you have traveled back hundreds of years.
