During the 2026 National Day holiday, UnionPay cardholders from outside China increased their spending within the country by more than 40 percent compared to the previous year. Data from China UnionPay highlights a significant rise in transactions from Hong Kong and Macau residents visiting provinces such as Zhejiang, Sichuan, and Hunan.
Spending by Mongolian cardholders in China surged by 1.4 times, with notable growth also observed among visitors from South Korea, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. Mobile Pay transactions by international cardholders rose by over 1.1 times, with food delivery, ride-hailing, and public transportation being the primary growth sectors.
For domestic UnionPay cardholders traveling abroad, spending in long-haul destinations like Australia, New Zealand, and Turkey grew by 31 percent, 22 percent, and 10 percent respectively. Outbound spending increasingly shifted toward experiential services, with South Korea seeing significant increases in dining, accommodation, and medical expenses.
Additionally, UnionPay reported that cross-border spending via the Cloud QuickPass app grew by 41 percent during the holiday period. Shopping, dining, and accommodation remained the most popular categories for international transactions made by domestic cardholders.
