Chongqing Ranks Among Top 5 National Destinations for May Day Holiday, with Cuisine as the Main “Growth Engine"

From sold-out scenic spots and fully booked homestays to long queues at spicy, numbing, fragrant and flavorful Chongqing noodle shops, Chongqing has once again become a hot check-in destination for tourists nationwide during the recently concluded. On May 5, Meituan released the 2026 May Day Consumption Insight Report, revealing that Chongqing ranks among the top 5 most popular tourist destinations nationwide, leading the list together with Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

The report shows that driven by the combination of spring break and the effect of linking annual leave with public holidays, travel volume surged significantly during this year's May Day holiday. Orders for mid-to-long-distance travel (over 300 km) accounted for 46% of total trips. Among the most popular tourist destinations, Chongqing continues to attract a substantial number of non-local tourists due to its unique blend of mountain-city nightscapes, authentic cuisine, and rich cultural and tourism experiences.

Food has become the primary “growth engine” drawing tourists. According to the Meituan report, in terms of national search volume, Mala Xiangguo (dry hotpot) and Chongqing Xiaomian (Chongqing noodles) rank as the top two most popular food categories, with year-on-year increases of 346% and 188%, respectively. Iconic noodle shops in Jiefangbei or Guanyinqiao, as well as time-honored hot pot restaurants tucked away in alleys, were almost fully booked throughout the holiday, with many travelers making special trips just to enjoy an authentic Chongqing flavor.

In terms of scenic spots, Chongqing Zoo, Chongqing Happy Valley, and Chongqing Fairy Mountain National Forest Park emerged as the top three most popular attractions for out-of-town visitors to Chongqing. The “giant panda craze” continues to heat up at Chongqing Zoo, attracting a large number of families and young tourists. Meanwhile, Fairy Mountain, with its cool climate and grassland vistas, became a popular choice for short- and medium-haul tourists seeking natural escapes.

The report also brings attention to a new trend called “Lifestyle Relocation” in travel. An increasing number of tourists are choosing not to drastically change their life rhythms for the sake of traveling. Instead, they “relocate” their daily habits to the destination, living like locals for a few days. Meituan data shows a 86% year-on-year increase in searches for “local specialty cuisine”, while user traffic to Dianping’s “Must-Eat List” from non-local sources increased by nearly 250% compared to the pre-holiday period. In Chongqing, many tourists chose to stay in distinctive mountain-city homestays along Nanbin Road or Shancheng Lane, exploring ancient streets during the day and enjoying the night light show of Chongqing's Two Rivers and Four Banks for an immersive experience of the “8D Magical City’s” unique charm.

In addition, county-level tourism and fifth-tier small cities experienced a boom this May Day. However, as a megacity, Chongqing remains firmly in the first tier of national popular tourist destinations due to its comprehensive tourism facilities and diverse consumption scenarios. A representative from the Meituan Research Institute stated that the platform is effectively helping tourists discover urban characteristics by connecting local life scenarios such as dining, accommodation and leisure, meeting demands for instant consumption and personalized experience. Chongqing's continuous innovation in cuisine, scenic spots, cultural experiences, and other aspects is injecting strong vitality into holiday consumption.

(Photo by Meituan)

Source: Chongqing Daily