China Sees Spike in High-Speed Train Bookings for New Year’s Holiday

Reservations for high-speed train tickets are soaring in China as people prepare for the upcoming New Year’s holiday, especially on routes under four hours, which are rapidly becoming favorites among travelers.

Data from Meituan Travel indicates that bookings for high-speed train tickets during the New Year’s holiday, spanning January 1 to 3, have increased nearly fivefold compared to last year. The top destinations include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Harbin, and Nanjing.

Tickets for many popular travel routes, such as Beijing-Shenyang, Beijing-Harbin, and Shanghai-Taizhou, as well as other routes departing on the evening of December 31 and the morning of January 1, are either sold out or in short supply. The most limited are tickets for trips shorter than four hours, according to sources.

The trend toward four-hour high-speed train travel is especially prominent in key urban regions, including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Sichuan-Chongqing area.

People living in first-tier cities and transportation hubs, like Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Zhengzhou, demonstrate particularly high demand for rail travel. Additionally, over 60 percent of train bookings for the holiday are made by individuals born after 1995.

Regarding air travel, data shows that Guangzhou, known for its mild weather, has become the most popular destination for New Year’s Eve. Travelers from colder cities such as Beijing and Shanghai are opting to fly south to warmer regions to celebrate.

This preference is reflected in search data for accommodations near major attractions in Guangzhou. Searches for hotels near Canton Tower increased by 56 percent compared to last year, and those near Guangzhou Zengcheng Square jumped 113 percent. Reservations at four-star and higher hotels have surged by 357 percent.

The Guangzhou Garden Hotel, a five-star property, expects occupancy rates during the New Year’s holiday to exceed 90 percent, possibly reaching full capacity, according to the hotel’s deputy general manager. She noted that most guests are young travelers and families.

The hotel’s revolving restaurant on the 30th floor is likely to be fully booked during the festivities, as it is very popular for offering panoramic city views of the night skyline.

Guangzhou has become a favored destination for New Year’s Eve because of its comfortable winter climate. The city is also experiencing a rapid increase in international visitors, with the Garden Hotel welcoming many guests from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe this year.