Just over a week away from the Spring Festival, tour packages for the holiday have fully launched in the travel market. Looking at domestic routes offered by travel agencies in Jiangmen, the destinations are largely similar to previous years; however, in terms of pricing, reporters noticed that some agencies have introduced luxury packages, with some domestic tour prices exceeding ten thousand yuan. For independent travel, judging by the activities organized by backpackers, most opt for short leisure trips.
Group Tours
Ten-Thousand-Yuan Packages Appear for Both Northern and Southern Routes
Recently, media reports indicated that the prices of Hainan tour packages have surged, with some even skyrocketing to ten thousand yuan. Recently, reporters also observed that Jiangmen’s market has seen domestic tour packages priced at around ten thousand yuan, mainly to Hainan and Beijing—precisely the two ends of the country. Normally, Beijing tour packages are priced between two to three thousand yuan, while some Hainan packages can be as low as a few hundred yuan—so why have they risen to tens of thousands?
Reviewing several ten-thousand-yuan tour packages, reporters found common keywords in their names: “luxury enjoyment” and “independent travel.” Taking Hainan as an example, one travel agency offers a three-day package priced as high as 39,900 yuan, called the “Sanya ‘If You Are the One’ Luxury Enjoyment Semi-Independent Tour.”
Why such luxury?
The features of the itinerary offer some clues: “Round-trip business class flights for absolute comfort and luxury!” “Two nights at the hotel featured in ‘If You Are the One II’—Pullman Sanya Yalong Bay Resort & Spa’s Bird’s Nest Villa—truly an imperial-level experience.” “Luxury-grade seafood feasts throughout the trip, with a minimum per-meal standard of 300 yuan/person.” Compared to the car tours to Hainan priced at just over 800 yuan, which offer meals at only 10 yuan/person and accommodations in non-star-rated hotels, this nearly 40,000-yuan luxury tour provides premium experiences in transportation, lodging, and dining.
Like Hainan, another route that has seen a dramatic price hike during the Spring Festival is the popular Beijing route in Jiangmen’s market. A “Beijing Seven-Star Luxury Semi-Independent Tour” is priced at 29,999 yuan. Similar to the ten-thousand-yuan Hainan tour, it offers high-end experiences in dining, accommodation, and travel—such as business class flights, luxury seven-star hotels, and the most luxurious being a genuine Quanjude roast duck banquet with a standard of 1180 yuan/person.
Are there any takers for such luxurious tours?
When reporters inquired about the Hainan tour, staff recommended the cheapest options rather than the ten-thousand-yuan ones. They also admitted that such high prices are due to the semi-independent nature, high-end hotels, and first-class cabins—“it’s for advertising purposes, and very few people choose it.”
In fact, random interviews with residents showed that most are not interested in these luxury packages. Travel agency operators noted that most citizens still prefer cheaper destinations in Southeast Asia—“no one goes for the expensive ones.”
Independent Travel
Backpackers Mostly Choose Short Trips for Outdoor Exploration
While travel agencies are rolling out Spring Festival packages to attract customers, outdoor groups have also begun organizing independent travel for backpackers. In terms of routes, aside from the more challenging northeastern ice and snow trips, most are short trips focused on areas like the Wuyi region, Yangjiang, Guangxi’s Hezhou, and Hunan’s Hengyang. The itineraries mostly involve outdoor activities such as cave exploration, picnics, and team-building exercises.
To avoid the peak travel rush during the Spring Festival, activities generally start from the third day of the Lunar New Year.
One backpacker responded, “We eat our fill on the first and second days, and come out on the third to burn off the fat.” Many travel enthusiasts feel that heading out during the golden week to experience a different Spring Festival atmosphere is a great choice. Unlike the short trips offered by travel agencies, the destinations organized by backpackers are less well-known but boast well-preserved natural scenery. For example, Huoshan Mountain in Longchuan County, Heyuan, is one of Guangdong’s seven famous mountains, combining the ruggedness of Huashan with the beauty of Huangshan—but few travel agencies include it in their itineraries. There’s also Malan in Yangchun City, which preserves unique karst landforms, beautiful rural scenery, as well as wonders like caves and peaks. For backpackers, choosing these adventure-oriented destinations is ideal for avoiding crowds and “enjoying a piece of the sky all to oneself.”
