Guangzhou recorded 6.628 million tourist visits during the 2026 Dragon Boat Festival holiday, generating over 4.7 billion yuan in cultural tourism spending, up 5.2 percent year on year, according to official data. Online travel platforms including Ctrip ranked the city as China's top destination for Dragon Boat Festival tours.

Dragon boat races took center stage across the city. The Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament brought together more than 3,800 rowers from 105 teams across 20 countries and regions, drawing over 100,000 spectators to the Pearl River waterfront.

The holiday also witnessed a sustained recovery in inbound tourism. Fifty-seven young U.S. participants joined the "Global Youth See Guangzhou" program for immersive local experiences. They watched grand dragon boat races, exchanged with university students, picked lychees in Zengcheng District, and visited Cantonese cultural landmarks including Yongqing Fang, Chen Clan Academy and Shawan Ancient Town. The group also toured local tech enterprises to gain first-hand insights into Guangzhou’s thriving modern industries.

Statistics from the Baiyun Entry-Exit Border Checkpoint show foreign arrivals rose 35 percent year on year over the holiday. Online travel platforms also logged a 38 percent year-on-year growth in inbound tourism consumption in Guangzhou.

Source: Guangzhou Daily
Reporter: Mosi Qige
English Author & Editor: Lyu Yun