Observer: Change and constancy in a transforming China

Passengers wait for trains at the waiting hall of Harbin Railway Station in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Oct. 1, 2026. The transportation network of the country witnessed a travel peak on the first day of the National Day holiday. (Photo by Xu Shuai/Xinhua)

This year's National Day holidays, widely known as Golden Week, have been shaped by a rare calendar coincidence: only three working days separate the Mid-Autumn Festival from National Day. The "take three days off to enjoy 13 days" arrangement has created an unusually long holiday window. Across the country, people are on the move. The number of passengers to make cross-regional trips is expected to reach 2.13 billion. In today's China, one sees both the profound changes in economic and social development and the enduring forces that remain unchanged.

Changing travel rhythms, unchanging aspirations for a better life. The long holiday has encouraged people to travel farther. Bookings for long-haul flights over 2,000 kilometers rose 76 percent year on year, and bookings by users choosing two or more destinations rose 70 percent. "Chasing autumn," "county tourism," and "city-hopping" have become keywords. More people are avoiding crowded hot spots and heading to small towns and counties to slow down and experience local life. Behind these changes is the higher pursuit of quality of life. Consumption is shifting further from goods to services. People are more willing to pay for autumn scenery, a performance, or an immersive experience in a distant place. Consumption is also becoming more rational and practical, with less emphasis on appearances — "face," as the Chinese put it — and more on genuine well-being. This shift reflects rising living standards and maturing consumer attitudes.

Changing ways of travel, unchanging momentum of innovation-driven development. The number of new energy vehicles on expressways on the first day of the holiday period is expected to reach 17.8 million, 1.8 times normal daily volume. In just a few years, new energy vehicles have grown from a niche choice to a common one for many families. Underlying this shift are a maturing new energy industrial chain and an increasingly dense charging network. China's economy has continued to advance this year, with new growth drivers and an improved structure. Artificial intelligence is empowering all sectors, and new energy vehicle output and sales are growing steadily. The growing number of new energy vehicles on the road is a striking footnote to industrial upgrading.

Changing forms of celebration, unchanging devotion to family and country. The third Shanghai International Light and Shadow Festival lights up the city's night sky; newly renovated neighborhoods along Beijing's Central Axis welcome visitors; and localities have launched rich cultural and tourism activities around autumn viewing, study tours, and the nighttime economy. The flow of travelers also runs both ways: visitors from visa-free countries are joining the festivities across China, turning Golden Week into a window through which the world experiences the country firsthand. From light shows to guochao (China-chic) markets, from rural flight experiences to immersive performances, the forms of celebration are more diverse and more technology-driven. Yet what runs through them all is the same deep love for family and country.

2026 marks the opening year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. As the nation celebrates the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, high-quality development and high-quality life reinforce each other. This long holiday period is more than a celebration: It reflects the betterment of daily life for 1.4 billion people, who are writing their own stories of family and country.

The flags are up, the trains are full, and the country is on the move.

Happy Golden Week to all who are traveling during it.

(Wang Yan is an associate research fellow at Beijing Foreign Studies University. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of the People's Daily.)