02/05/2025

FRIDAY | MAY 2, 2025

21

LYFE

Peak period travel

o Surge in trips expected for China holidays

T RIP numbers are set to reach a three-year post-Covid high during China’s May Day (Labour’s Day) public holidays, travel firms said. The holiday, which began yesterday and lasts for five days, is a prime time for travel, with pleasant spring weather making it more appealing than the wintery Lunar New Year break. Domestic travel in China has boomed since the end of the country’s pandemic-era restrictions, but while more people are taking a holiday, many are keeping a tight rein on spending amid an economic slowdown and concern about employment and wage stagnation. Liu Xiaoting, a 32-year-old bank employee, plans to travel to Hebei, a province close to her home in Beijing. “I will drive with friends to Handan to visit the grottoes there,” she said, adding that part of the appeal of the trip was the minimal spending required. She shared hotels in Handan cost about 300 to 400 yuan (RM178–237) even during the holiday. “As the Chinese saying goes, we want to ‘spend a little, accomplish a lot’.” The tighter budgets have led to a surge in visits to more affordable smaller cities and villages, as well as road trips and camping holidays. Chinese online travel agent Tuniu reported as of mid-April, domestic travel bookings for May Day were more than double compored with last year. Beijing-based travel operator UTour Group said as of April 15, the gross merchandise volume (GMV, a common measure of online sales) on its platform had increased by about 65% year-on-year. Travel information provider Umetrip also saidas of April 17, the number of domestic flight tickets booked for the May Day holiday was more than 3.33 million, marking a 36% increase compared with last year. International flight ticket bookings on Umetrip have risen by about 25%. International travel, meanwhile, is dominated by short-haul routes, with Japan and the UAE emerging as popular destinations according to pre-holiday data. Even a warning last month from

Ding Ding Qipao Tour HOTEL Lanson Place Causeway Bay, Hong Kong is collaborating with Hong Kong Tramways (Ding Ding) to launch the Ding Ding Qipao Tour on weekends, commencing on May 17. Take a tram ride and immerse in Hong Kong’s rich cultural heritage.

nostalgia of a bygone era. The photogenic journey does not end there. Participants are invited to visit Salon Lanson within Lanson Place, where they can enjoy a special cocktail inspired by The World of Suzie Wong, a romantic classic film set in 1960s Hong Kong. The Ding Ding Qipao Tour pass for HK$580 (RM322.69) per person includes: 0 A one-hour journey on the TramOramic Tour (one way) 0 Rental of a qipao from Yan Shang Kee. Garment to be returned the following day. 0 A glass of The World of Suzie Wong at Salon Lanson for an additional HK$68. To enhance this adventure, Modern travellers may take advantage of the hotel’s Chronicles of Nostalgia accommodation package, which includes a one-night stay along with two Ding Ding Qipao Tour passes. Each pass features qipao rental and a tram journey. Guests will also enjoy two glasses of its signature cocktail at Salon Lanson. This package starts from HK$2,430 per room per night and is available on weekends from May 17 to Aug 17.

Travelling from Sheung Wan to Causeway Bay, the tour invites participants to step back in time to experience the vibrant heritage of Hong Kong. Originating from the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), qipao is the hallmark of Chinese identity, renowned for their elegance and historical significance. Their popularity surged in Hong Kong during the 1960s due to a significant influx of Shanghainese immigrants. Ding Ding Qipao Tour offers the opportunity to put on a traditional qipao , available for rental from the clothing boutique Yan Shang Kee in Central. With a variety of styles for women, men and children, this experience is for couples, friends and families eager to embark on an off-the-beaten-path travel adventure. They will then board a restored 1920s-style open-top tram, gliding through the bustling streets of Hong Kong while savouring the

T he number of domestic flight tickets that has been booked for the May Day holiday is more than 3.33 million. – PICS FROM PEXELS

visitors, county-level tourism is rapidly gaining traction. Trip.com Group data showed the popularity of searches for smaller cities has increased by 25% year-on-year, with growth rates 11 percentage points higher than in China’s biggest cities. Searches for small and remote places such as Bortala, an autonomous prefecture in Xinjiang populated with ethnic minority Mongol people, and Puer, a famous tea-producing area in Yunnan, have surged by more than 50%, it said. – Reuters

China’s embassy urging Chinese travellers to enhance safety precautions and pay attention to personal and food hygiene does not seem to have deterred holidaymakers. “Japan has long-established a reputation of being clean, mature and safe. Our tourists are not impacted by the warnings, especially those who have visited Japan before,” said Moment Travel founder Su Shu. Domestically, while metropolises such as Beijing and Shanghai continue to attract

Shuanghuaishu site in Gongyi, Zhengzhou.

Spotlighting historical Zhengzhou ZHENGZHOU in central China’s Henan Province recently launched the documentary series Zhengzhou in Cultural Relics for global distribution, digitally bringing the brilliance of Central Plains civilisation to worldwide audiences. Curated from the 50-episode documentary Zhengzhou in Cultural Relics , the 10-episode series highlights major cultural heritage sites in Zhengzhou, including the Shuanghuai Tree “Heluo Ancient Kingdom”, Peiligang Site and the Pagoda Forest of Shaolin Temple. Using animation, reenactments and other techniques, it brings these ancient sites to life. nation’s eight major ancient capitals. The city has two World Heritage Sites, 83 national-level key cultural relics protection sites and nearly 10,000 immovable cultural relics. Its archaeological finds have been listed in China’s “Top 10 New Archaeological Discoveries” 16 times, more than any other Chinese city. Zhengzhou in Cultural Relics , jointly produced by Zhengzhou’s Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and Xinhua News Agency, took five years to craft. In 2024, the documentary was named an “Excellent Project for Chinese Cultural Relics New Media

Metropolises such as Beijing and Shanghai continue to attract visitors.

Dissemination” by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, making it Henan Province’s sole honoree that year.

The capital of Henan Province Zhengzhou sits at the heart of China. A key cradle of Chinese civilisation, it ranks among the

Searches for small and remote places have boomed.