Shanghai welcomed 21.67 million tourists during the nine-day Spring Festival holiday, which concluded on Feb 23, fueling a surge in consumer spending and cultural activity across the city.

Robust consumer spending

Shanghai's consumer market recorded strong growth during the holiday period, with online and offline spending reaching 60.35 billion yuan ($8.75 billion), up 12.8 percent from the same period last year.

Offline spending totaled 36.55 billion yuan, an increase of 15.4 percent, while online spending reached 23.8 billion yuan, rising 8.9 percent.

Tax refunds for departing travelers surged, with sales exceeding 80 million yuan, a 150-percent increase year-on-year. Visitors from Russia, South Korea, and the United States accounted for a substantial share of these refunds.

Festive atmosphere and dining delights

Major commercial districts across the city cultivated a vibrant festive atmosphere that drove robust spending. Shanghai's 19 leading commercial areas recorded 4.78 billion yuan in sales, an increase of 12 percent, while average daily foot traffic reached 3.19 million, up 15.8 percent.

The city's dining sector was particularly buoyant. Data from Meituan indicated a 15.2-percent increase in in-store dining consumption. Merchants participating in the Global Taste in Shanghai initiative reported higher turnover and a rise in orders.

In addition, 1,194 merchants engaged in online promotional campaigns recorded a 36.7-percent increase in dine-in consumption and a 47.4-percent rise in orders.

Eight time-honored restaurant brands reopened on South Shanxi Road, Middle Fujian Road, and Middle Jiangxi Road, generating an average daily revenue of 394,000 yuan and serving 10,000 customers per day.

Cultural and tourism events

More than 2,570 cultural and tourism activities were launched for the holiday. Total tourism revenue reached 25.61 billion yuan, marking a 20.9-percent increase. The average hotel occupancy rate across the city stood at 50.6 percent, up 3.1 percentage points.

Museums and performance venues drew significant crowds. The World Expo Museum showcased artifacts from ancient Rome, while the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum reopened ahead of the festival, with a special Year of the Horse exhibition drawing large numbers of visitors.

Across the city, lantern fairs, intangible cultural heritage markets and seasonal bazaars blended traditional customs with modern urban settings, adding fresh momentum to the nighttime economy.

Holiday travel peak

On Feb 23, the last day of the holiday, Shanghai's railway stations recorded a peak in returning passengers, handling a total of 904,000 people.

Shanghai Metro extended the operating hours of lines 1, 2, 9, 10, and 17 to align with railway schedules. Customized bus lines were also arranged from Hongqiao Railway Station to serve passengers arriving in late night.

Source: Shanghai Observer