International destinations including Thailand, Australia and Russia are seeing a sharp influx of Chinese travellers during this year’s Lunar New Year travel period, as hundreds of millions take advantage of extended holidays and eased visa rules to venture abroad.
The 40-day travel season – known as Chunyun – is expected to generate a record 9.5 billion trips, making it the largest annual movement of people on the planet. While the vast majority are domestic journeys, travel agencies report a significant rebound in outbound tourism, signalling growing confidence among Chinese consumers.
Summery short-haul destinations are leading the charge, with Southeast Asia topping wish lists. Thailand remains a perennial favourite, while Australia is also experiencing renewed demand from Chinese holidaymakers seeking warm weather escapes during the northern winter.
Russia has emerged as a notable newcomer after introducing visa-free travel for Chinese visitors in late 2025, driving strong interest in cross-border itineraries.
The surge comes as China expanded visa-free access for travellers from more than 45 countries and extended the official Spring Festival holiday to nine days – factors that have boosted both inbound and outbound flows.
Domestically, travellers are split between tropical hotspots such as Hainan Island and winter sports destinations including Changbai Mountain, underscoring the diversity of demand across the market.
Transport networks are under intense pressure, with railways already carrying more than one billion passengers since the travel period began on 2 February, while airlines are expected to handle around 95 million passengers over the 40-day window.
Often viewed as a bellwether for economic sentiment, this year’s Lunar New Year travel rush suggests Chinese tourism – both at home and abroad – is firmly back on the move.
