National Day And Mid Autumn Festival Boosts Red Tourism Travel To Iconic Revolutionary Heritage Sites In China

The recent extended holiday period in China, combining the National Day and Mid Autumn Festival, experienced a remarkable surge in travel activities. This eight-day holiday witnessed a significant increase in the number of travelers, particularly among families and younger generations, who demonstrated a rising preference for red tourism. This form of tourism involves visiting historical revolutionary sites that provide immersive experiences connecting visitors to the country’s rich historical narrative.

Commemorative Significance Driving Tourism

The surge in red tourism is closely connected to the commemorative importance of the year, which marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. This milestone holds deep national relevance, inspiring many travelers to visit revolutionary memorials and patriotic education centers. These sites enable participants to engage directly with critical moments of national history, fostering a profound sense of pride and reinforcing the continuity of national identity.

Key Destinations Shaping Travel

Among the most visited destinations during this holiday period was the Memorial Hall of the Hundred-Regiment Campaign in Yangquan City, Shanxi Province. This memorial honors a major wartime event from the early 1940s when, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Eighth Route Army launched the Hundred-Regiment Campaign. Renowned as the largest and longest strategic offensive in northern China during the war, this campaign effectively countered Japanese advances and significantly boosted the morale of both military personnel and civilians.

The memorial hall offers more than just a historical preservation function; it serves as a vibrant center for education and reflection. Visitors from across China and abroad are provided with detailed insights into the campaign’s strategies, sacrifices, and historical impact through comprehensive exhibits, narratives, and curated experiences. During the holiday season, the number of visitors increased substantially, allowing a wider audience to learn through hands-on and immersive experiences.

Cultural and Educational Impact

The rise in red tourism during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival highlights a broader cultural shift where travel evolves beyond leisure to become a meaningful exploration of heritage and identity. This trend reflects society’s growing readiness to remember historical struggles and achievements, using tourism as a vehicle to sustain collective memory and inspire future generations. The fusion of cultural reflection and historical education is becoming a defining feature of China’s contemporary travel culture.

Economic Boosts to Local Communities

In addition to its cultural significance, red tourism generates considerable economic advantages. Areas surrounding historical sites benefit from increased visitor expenditures on lodging, dining, transportation, and souvenirs. These economic boosts support the maintenance and enhancement of memorial sites, ensuring their preservation for future visitors and ongoing use as educational platforms.

Engaging the Younger Generation

The rising appeal of red tourism among younger travelers is especially noteworthy. Many younger visitors, who may feel distanced from the historical conflicts experienced by earlier generations, are drawn to these sites to gain a vivid and emotional understanding of their heritage. Interactive and immersive experiences at these locations serve as vital tools for bridging generational gaps and deepening historical awareness amongst youth.

Innovative Tourism Experiences

Besides traditional exhibitions, revolutionary sites have embraced innovative methods to make history more accessible and engaging. Many sites have introduced cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality (VR) to enrich visitor experiences. Immersive stage performances, live aquashows, folk presentations, and on-site lectures have been incorporated into red tourism programs, attracting tens of thousands of visitors in a single day. Such innovative approaches enhance the storytelling capabilities of these sites and make historical education more compelling.

Trends in Travel Habits

Family trips and self-driving tours dominated the patterns of travel during the holiday, accompanied by a surge in younger tourists participating in red tourism activities. This highlights a trend where historical tourism is no longer restricted to older generations or formal groups but is becoming a popular choice for families and individuals seeking meaningful travel experiences.

The Multifaceted Importance of Red Tourism

The intersection of historical significance, national pride, and economic benefits underscores the multifaceted role of red tourism during major public holidays. As China continues to commemorate critical historical anniversaries, this tourism segment is expected to grow further. It enables deeper engagement with history while simultaneously supporting local economies and safeguarding cultural heritage.

Broader National Travel Trends

The extended holiday also saw a general boom in domestic tourism. According to official data, China recorded 888 million domestic tourist trips during the National Day holiday, a sharp increase from the previous year. Tourist destinations across the country, ranging from misty mountains to centuries-old towns, were bustling with travelers, demonstrating the country’s vibrant travel enthusiasm and economic vitality.

Inbound Tourism Recovery

In parallel with domestic growth, inbound tourism has shown a strong rebound, supported by visa-free policies and improved travel facilitation measures. Visitors from numerous countries including South Korea, the United States, Russia, Japan, and Malaysia were among the top foreign travelers. Certain regions such as Beijing, Hunan, and Jiangxi provinces reported significant increases in foreign arrivals, contributing to the overall tourism momentum.

Conclusion

The 2025 National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday served as a powerful testament to the evolving nature of tourism in China. The noticeable rise of red tourism stands out as a meaningful cultural trend that intertwines travel with historical remembrance and patriotic education. This form of tourism has expanded from a niche segment into a significant force shaping contemporary travel experiences, compelling travelers of all ages to connect with their past, while simultaneously contributing to economic growth and heritage preservation.