TOPIC

Golden week

Golden week
The Chinese "golden week" refers either of the two week-long holidays around National Day on October 1, and the lunar calendar Spring Festival which usually falls in January or February of each year. Tens of millions of Chinese travel by air, train and road to family reunions, vacations or shopping centres during these holidays.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
A mainland Chinese traveller uses his Octopus card at Lo Wu MTR station during the National Day “golden week” break. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong economy

Octopus logs HK$100 million worth of tourist spending over National Day break

E-payment service provider also says number of active users of ‘tourist mobile Octopus’ during break tripled compared with last year.

Singles' Day (11.11)

Alibaba, JD.com, Pinduoduo kick-start Singles’ Day promotions on same day

Singapore

China’s tiger mums spend holidays at Singapore colleges to give children an edge

China property

China property: stabilisation effort gains pace in Hangzhou, Chengdu

Zhejiang province’s capital lifts price restrictions for homes built on newly acquired land and cuts initial payments for new and used homes.

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Hangzhou, a major city, eastern China, has withdrawn price restrictions for homes built on newly acquired land in the metropolis. Photo: Shutterstock
China's economic recovery

Explainer | How China’s massive trade-in programme is driving consumption of everyday items

From air conditioners and refrigerators to computers and televisions, appliances are getting a second life in China with the help of government subsidies.

Hong Kong

Editorial | Challenges ahead for Hong Kong businesses after surge during golden week

City hotels, restaurants and retailers may have enjoyed the National Day holiday, but they need more than seasonal booms to survive.

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China technology

Chinese tech giants from ByteDance to Meituan see rise in ‘golden week’ spending

Major online platforms for dining and travel-booking services recorded increased expenditure by mainland consumers during the annual holiday.

Mainland consumers splurged on travel and dining services provided by major online platforms during the annual break. Photo: Bloomberg
China's economic recovery

China’s ‘golden week’ saw spending regain its shine, buoyed by confidence boost

Chinese travellers and tourists spent 700.82 billion yuan during the just-ended holiday week – a 7.9 per cent increase from the same period in pre-pandemic 2019.

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Tencent

Tencent says WeChat payments jump during China’s ‘golden week’

Consumers in China appear to have loosened their purse strings after Beijing announced a slew of heavyweight measures to boost the economy.

Alibaba

Alipay sees surge in travel transactions during China’s ‘golden week’ holiday

During the first four days of the holiday, the number of transactions made via Alipay in overseas markets surged 60 per cent year on year.

Shoppers and tourists line up at a luxury fashion brand store in Hong Kong during the Golden Week holiday. Photo: Edmond So
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s EV subsidy boosts ‘golden week’ sales as buyers lock in deals

Dealers report bumper sales during the weeklong holiday, but market observers warn of potential post-subsidy slowdown.

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Car enthusiasts check out a BYD Seal electric car. Cars dealers on mainland Chinese did brisk sales during the golden week holiday. Photo: Xinhua
China's economic recovery

‘I don’t think it can get any harder’: reality check for China’s travel industry

Stark contract between an optimistic picture painted by China’s travel data and consumers who are reluctant to spend amid broader economic anxieties.

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Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong tourism sector expects bumper Christmas after ‘golden week’ surge

Immigration authorities say 980,000 mainland visitors entered Hong Kong over first five days of holiday.

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China property

Golden week: China’s property market gets boost from Beijing’s stimulus measures

Strong sales in Shenzhen during the week-long holiday reflect the impact of recent wide-ranging stimulus measures rolled out by Beijing.

Chinese homebuyers gather at a property showroom in Shenzhen’s Nanshan district on October 3, 2024. Photo: Yulu Ao
Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong stock market boom gives restaurants boost amid ‘golden week’ holiday

Hotel industry also reports increase occupancy levels at some small and medium-sized venues, amid growing trend of last minute bookings.

Mainland China’s annual “golden week” break runs from October 1 to 7. Photo: Antony Dickson
China's economic recovery

Foreign inflows may persist as China’s policy easing gives assets facelift

Analysts expect inflows into Chinese assets to persist as Beijing continues to implement easing measures.

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China’s film industry

China’s National Day box office breaches billion-yuan mark on day 3

The second entry in a historical war trilogy leads the way, with a sci-fi action film on its tail, but China’s film industry is still chasing pre-pandemic interest.

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China's economic recovery

Tumbling price of one of China’s most valued ‘golden week’ gifts causes worry

Falling prices of hairy crabs has raised concerns as the seven-day ‘golden week’ holiday is seen as an important time to gauge China’s domestic demand.

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Chinese mitten crabs. Photo: Shutterstock Images
Hong Kong society

Why did Shenzhen’s National Day drone show go ahead but not Hong Kong’s?

Drone operator behind both events says flexible schedule for show in Shenzhen allowed it to wait for better atmospheric conditions.

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Hong Kong tourism

Mainland Chinese tourists choose cheap Hong Kong eats during ‘golden week’ trips

Mainland tourists still committed to experiences popularised on social media, as catering industry leader predicts 10 per cent business rise.

US-China relations

In break from past, China receives no formal statement from US on National Day

Leaders or senior officials from Europe sent congratulatory messages to China, as did the leaders of Russia and North Korea.

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A flag-raising ceremony marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China on October 1. Photo: EPA-EFE
Banking & finance

Hong Kong banks lure mainland clients with special incentives during golden week

Hong Kong banks are pulling out all the stops to attract mainland tourists, offering everything from fireworks dinners to golf with famous players.

Hong Kong banks are tempting clients with a range of activities including fireworks dinners during the ongoing golden week holiday. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong society

Government can’t control weather, minister says after Hong Kong axes drone shows

Ionospheric scintillation, which leads to poor GPS signal, forced city to scrap drone shows, although Shenzhen was able to go ahead with performances.

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong restaurants enjoy up to 15% boost in business on National Day

Special occasion marked by array of offers including discounts of up to 30 per cent at over 3,600 outlets.

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Hong Kong tourism

Northbound on National Day: Hongkongers pour into Shenzhen for celebration

Residents say they are looking for a change of environment and feel activities planned by Hong Kong authorities lack novelty.

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Hongkongers head to Shenzhen via Lo Wu station on the National Day holiday. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong lawmakers call for contingency plans after mega drone show cancelled

Ionospheric interference, mainly caused by solar storms, forces cancellation of two drone shows for National Day celebrations.

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Thousands of people had converged on the cultural hub to wait for the National Day-themed performances. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong society

Drone show cancelled ahead of Hong Kong National Day fireworks – as it happened

Spectacular fireworks display draws hundreds of thousands to harbourfront although drone show cancelled at last minute.

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Hong Kong society

Glitch grounds drone show Hong Kong planned on eve of country’s 75th anniversary

Thousands of people, including many tourists, had gathered for spectacle at West Kowloon Cultural District.

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