Dragon Boat holiday boosts Beijing tourism and culture

Beijing's cultural and tourism sector posted solid growth during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, fueled by traditional folklore activities, upgraded cultural experiences and rising inbound travel demand, according to local authorities.

The capital recorded 8.47 million tourist visits during the holiday, generating 11.35 billion yuan ($1.67 billion) in tourism revenue, marking a stable year-on-year increase. Inbound tourism showed particularly strong momentum, with 87,000 overseas visitors, up 31.2 percent year-on-year, and inbound tourism spending reaching 950 million yuan, up 31.4 percent.

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism said it worked with district authorities and other departments to organize around 2,000 cultural and tourism events. Blending traditional folk customs with contemporary cultural experiences, the programs made intangible cultural heritage more engaging, accessible, and interactive for visitors.

Traditional festival activities remained especially popular among families and young travelers. Across the city, organizers staged dragon boat races, temple fairs, handicraft workshops and food markets featuring traditional seasonal snacks. Visitors also took part in making sachets, weaving five-color silk threads, wrapping rice dumplings and participating in land-based dragon boat games.

Officials say these hands-on experiences helped bring intangible cultural heritage closer to daily life, while also supporting cultural consumption during the holiday period.

A series of themed cultural events aimed at younger audiences also attracted strong interest, including traditional-style cultural festivals in historical areas such as Qianmen and Moshikou. Visitors wearing hanfu (traditional-style clothing) were a common sight along historical streets, adding to the festive atmosphere.

At the Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Center, foreign visitors were invited to take part in immersive cultural activities showcasing traditional customs. Organizers said such programs offered international guests a deeper understanding of Chinese festival culture through firsthand experiences.

Along the Tongzhou section of the Grand Canal, a dragon boat carnival and cultural performances, including illuminated night tours and themed parades, drew large crowds. Similar events were held in suburban districts such as Miyun and Shunyi, where water sports parks and historical townscapes hosted dragon boat festivals and cultural activities. Rural tourism around Beijing also gained momentum, with homestays, cafe villages and fruit-picking destinations attracting short-haul holidaymakers.

The performing arts sector saw a strong holiday lineup, with 280 commercial productions staged in 1,136 performances across the city. Major events included international theater and dance festivals, original Chinese drama showcases, children's theater premieres and musical performances.

Cultural institutions also reported robust attendance. Museums and galleries across Beijing hosted 66 key exhibitions during the holiday, ranging from international art exchanges to contemporary installations and major retrospectives of leading Chinese artists. Many exhibitions were linked with nearby cultural districts and commercial areas, encouraging integrated cultural consumption.

Officials said the combination of traditional cultural experiences, diversified performances and improved services helped create a vibrant holiday tourism market and supported Beijing's goal of becoming a world-class cultural and tourism destination.