Shanghai witnessed a significant influx of tourists during the recent National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday from Oct 1-8, receiving a staggering 25.49 million visits. This marks a year-on-year growth of 19.74 percent.

Major travel platforms, including Fliggy, Meituan, and Dianping, highlighted Shanghai as the top domestic travel destination during the holiday. Attractions such as the West Bund Dream Center, Taikoo Li Qiantan, and Pop Land ranked among the top 10 must-visit spots nationwide.

According to Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency, domestic flight bookings using non-Chinese passports surged by 33 percent year-on-year during the holiday, spanning nearly a hundred cities. Shanghai emerged as the top domestic city favored by international visitors.

Shanghai's rich culinary scene also took center stage, earning the city the top spot on the "must-eat" city list. High-rated restaurants reported a substantial increase in both dine-in and delivery orders. The holiday coincided with diverse culinary events, including the Qiantan International Food Festival and the 11th Donghu Food Festival, offering a cultural feast that blended international flair with local Shanghainese flavors.

Cultural and sports activities further enhanced Shanghai's appeal, drawing large numbers of visitors from around the world. During the holiday, the city's cultural venues and performance spaces transformed into vibrant cultural hubs, showcasing high-quality exhibitions and immersive performances. Sports enthusiasts were also treated to high-profile events such as the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters, 2025 Head of Shanghai River Regatta, and the 2025 UIM F1H2O World Championship.

In terms of consumer spending, Shanghai experienced a surge across service, retail, leisure, and entertainment sectors. Data from Meituan reveals that the city ranked first nationwide in leisure and entertainment service consumption orders and transaction volumes during the holiday. Orders for plane and train tickets increased by 45 percent year-on-year, while bookings for five-star hotels rose by over 40 percent.

A key driver of tourism and consumption was the 36th Shanghai Tourism Festival, which concluded on Oct 6 after an impressive 93-day run, boosting total tourism consumption to more than 300 billion yuan ($42.09 billion). Events like the Long Beach Arts Festival and the Shanghai International Tea Culture Tourism Festival integrated intangible cultural heritage and artistic elements into commercial zones. These events allowed both residents and tourists to immerse themselves in the city's unique cultural charm while shopping and exploring.

Sources: WeChat account of the General Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government at "shanghaifabu", Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, Jiefang Daily, data platforms mentioned above