China's H1 2026 GDP Rises 4.7% to RMB 69.57 Trillion; Summer Tourism Promotions Launched

In the summer of 2026, the cultural tourism market continued to heat up, with quality supply expanding across regions. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, preliminary estimates show that the first-half gross domestic product reached RMB 69.57 trillion, up 4.7% year on year at constant prices. By industry, the tertiary sector's value added reached RMB 41.37 trillion, up 5.2%. The services sector maintained steady growth, with modern services showing a positive trend.

Combining their local resource endowments, various regions rolled out intensive summer cultural tourism consumption-promotion activities. The Wumeng Grassland in Panzhou, Guizhou, attracted a large number of residential-style summer visitors with its cool climate; Sanya in Hainan launched a stamp-collection passport activity for island tours, drawing a steady stream of tourists; Fuling in Chongqing upgraded its night-tour model, combining trendy performances with riverside night tours to attract many visitors seeking summer recreation.

Heilongjiang launched a 100-day summer escape tourism initiative, offering themed tour routes and distinctive cultural tourism products to meet diversified consumption demands. In Shaoxing, Zhejiang, summer cultural tourism consumption-promotion activities focused on family and young adult groups, deepening the study-tour market and driving related consumption through a 'study tour + scenic area + dining + accommodation' industry chain. The city also deployed cooling summer leisure formats, leveraging its mountain and water resources to create water-play, stream-tracing, and camping summer retreat scenes.

Shenzhen in Guangdong continued to cultivate distinctive consumption scenarios, with immersive technology museum experiences and a robot avenue tech exhibition showcasing the integration of digital technology and the experience economy. Night tours at art museums and nighttime celebrations in distinctive towns drove the night economy. In Zhengzhou, Henan, leisure district visitors could enjoy food and symphony concerts, while a heritage city wall hosted a time-honored brand market and Yu opera performances, and bustling commercial areas offered morning tea and live sports viewing. Ordos in Inner Mongolia staged fine art performances, drone fireworks shows, and lawn concerts, while also creating micro-vacation products such as RV camping and lawn markets, and setting up traditional culture handcraft experience sessions to enrich cultural consumption supply.