During the three-day Qingming holiday, with spring in full swing and pleasant weather, Qingdao witnessed a dual surge in leisure travel and holiday consumption. The outdoor economy, food and beverage spending, and inbound tourism flourished across multiple sectors, injecting vibrant energy into the consumer market.
Outdoor excursions became the "main theme" of the holiday, directly boosting upstream and downstream consumption including outdoor gear and camping services. During the holiday, the Carnival·Hisense Plaza VILLAGE in Tangdao Bay recorded double-digit growth in both foot traffic and sales revenue, with sports brands standing out as the most remarkable category. "Our shopping mall boasts the most comprehensive selection of sports brands and categories in the western coast area. Ahead of the holiday, we also unveiled an art installation called 'Internet-famous Steps,' attracting many consumers who came to the seaside to check in and snap photos while enjoying the fine weather, and also purchased all the outdoor gear they needed," said a representative of the mall.
The enthusiasm for outdoor activities led to packed camping sites. A camping site located on Baoyudao Road in Laoshan District received over 700 visitors during the three-day holiday. "Due to the limited number of tents and other equipment, we reached full capacity every single day. The mountain and sea views are already so attractive that we didn't even need to organize extra activities. Many consumers were still waiting in line, and our staff were constantly busy," said Mr. Yang, the site operator, who had to keep arranging the use of equipment like gas stoves even during the interview.
The continuous rise in holiday travel also left the catering market fully occupied, with sampling local specialties and tasting fresh seasonal ingredients becoming a shared choice for both residents and tourists. Shuangheyuan's outlets in areas such as the Historic District and Jidi Plaza were extremely popular, with queues exceeding 150 tables during peak hours. Many diners were willing to wait for 90 minutes just to taste authentic fish dumplings. The Black Pearl restaurant Mingjia Shiji · Courtyard Restaurant (Haiqing Road location) was fully booked throughout the holiday, with tourists accounting for over 30 percent of its customers. The restaurant's fusion of seasonal vegetables with local seafood was highly favored by diners. Meanwhile, spring-limited dishes such as the "Three-Step Toona Sinensis Medley" launched by Xinfusheng Liji Hotel in Shibei District also saw a significant year-on-year increase in sales, with nearly 10,000 portions sold in total.
Flower viewing and spring outings are not only attracting domestic tourists but have also become a new driver of inbound consumption. A Thai-speaking tour guide told a reporter that most Thai tourists visiting Qingdao recently are middle-aged and elderly people, primarily drawn by flower viewing — cherry blossoms, crabapple blossoms, and other northern flower varieties that are extremely rare in the tropics have become the most appealing "exclusive scenery." Not only Thai consumers but also many European and American tourists have been captivated by Qingdao's spring charm, prompting them to "check in and check out" — visit the sights and swipe their cards for purchases. At the century-old time-honored brand Chunhelou, foot traffic continued to climb during the holiday, increasing by 12.6 percent year on year, with inbound tourists accounting for about 2 percent of the total. In addition to Korean tourists as the main customer group, the number of tourists from Germany, Russia, and other countries also grew. New-style Chinese tea drinks also performed impressively. He Tian Shui Pu saw its holiday sales increase by over 80 percent month on month, and the number of European and American customers visiting its stores grew by at least 20 percent year on year. Among its offerings, the Chinese-style coffee beverage became a must-order hit for inbound tourists, winning the favor of a large number of foreign consumers with its fresh taste and traditional Chinese aesthetic.
From enjoying outdoor freedom to seeking fresh flavors on the tip of the tongue, from inbound tourists checking in at scenic spots to micro-vacations in county-level areas, Qingdao's consumer market during the Qingming holiday was brimming with highlights and vitality. As the peak tourism season fully arrives, Qingdao will continue to launch new consumption scenarios, optimize consumer experiences, and steadily unleash its consumption potential, keeping the city's consumption momentum strong and rising.
(Source: Qingdao Daily/Guanhai News, Reporter: Ding Qianqian)
Editor: Zhang Yishuo
