CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- With the May Day holiday approaching, popular destinations are already experiencing tight availability for high-speed train tickets and sold-out hotel reservations. Where else can one find last-minute travel opportunities during the May Day holiday?

Based on data from Qunar, as of April 24, hotel bookings in popular cities on the platform have nearly doubled compared to last year. Beijing, Chongqing, Changsha, Wuhan, Chengdu, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xi'an, Nanjing, and Qingdao are among the top cities for hotel reservations during this year's May Day holiday.

High-speed rail tickets for this year's May Day holiday are in high demand, with popular routes selling out soon upon release. Despite the availability of more flexible air tickets, there are still plenty of low-priced options worth considering as the holiday approaches. For instance, as of the last week before the holiday, tickets such as Shanghai-Nanjing, Shanghai-Ningbo, and Chengdu-Xishuangbanna for April 27 remain at attractive prices, and the bare fare for Chengdu-Sanya air tickets is less than 200 yuan for April 28.

Besides domestic flights, international airfares are also available for around 1,000 yuan, with some discounted routes even cheaper than domestic ones. For example, on the low-price airfare page of the Qunar Travel app, flights from Beijing and Shanghai to Seoul on May 2 are priced at less than 500 yuan. Flights to Seoul, Manila, Bangkok, Osaka, and Kuala Lumpur still have tickets for less than 1,000 yuan for May Day holiday, providing affordable options for travelers who have yet to finalize their plans.

According to the 2024 May Day Homestay Travel Forecast Report released by Tujia B&B, as of April 24, the average number of bookings in popular cities across all platforms has increased by 20% year-on-year, making this May Day holiday the hottest for homestay. With the continuous enhancement of market economy vitality and the comprehensive recovery of the entire homestay supply chain, the supply of high-quality homestays continues to increase. Staying in homestays on May Day this year is more affordable, with prices remaining the same as last year, and the average price in some popular cities dropping by about 10% than last year.

Tujia B&B’s data shows that, during the May Day period, among the top ten cities in the country in terms of bookings, two are from Shandong, with Qingdao ranking fifth and Weihai ranking seventh. The top ten popular cities on the platform are Chongqing, Fuzhou, Beijing, Chengdu, Qingdao, Xi'an, Weihai, Changsha, Hangzhou, and Dali. Chongqing has emerged as the hottest destination for homestay reservations nationwide, and its top 5 most popular business districts for reservations are Jiefangbei/Hongyadong, Guanyinqiao, Jiangbei International Airport, Nanbin Road, and Shapingba Station.

Before the May Day holiday, 8 scenic spots in Chongqing have recently been upgraded to national 4A-level, include Chongqing Liu Shuai’s Hometown · Red Zhoudu Scenic Area, Yongchuan Songji Ancient Town, Fuling Mexin Wine Town, Liangping Shuanggui Pastoral Scenic Area, Wuxi Lanying Grand Canyon Scenic Area, Shizhu Bizika Paradise, Wansheng Western Mushroom Valley Scenic Area, and Dadukou Jin’ao Pastoral Complex, providing more attractions for tourists visiting Chongqing. (Translated by Wang Zhong, Fathom Language Limited)