# urban hollowing

China’s Post-Holiday Consumption Shift: How Experience, County Markets and Cultural Scenes Are Reshaping Demand

China’s 2026 Spring Festival produced record travel and spending but revealed a structural shift in consumption: lower-tier and county destinations are benefiting from urban-born expectations for curated experiences, while consumers prefer denser, scene-driven cultural and sporting offerings over routine goods purchases. The new battleground for growth is delivering high-quality, place-based experiences that combine cultural meaning, social belonging and commercial value.