During the National Day Golden Week, Shenzhen experienced a remarkable uptick in tourism and low-altitude economic activities, significantly enhancing cultural and travel consumption. Recent reports indicate that the city welcomed around 8.19 million visitors over the seven-day period, representing a 12.5% increase from the previous year. Among these visitors, nearly 974,600 were international tourists, contributing to a tourism revenue of 7.6 billion yuan, which is an 11.3% year-on-year rise.
From October 1 to 7, Shenzhen showcased a series of spectacular drone performances across five districts: Futian, Luohu, Longgang, Longhua, and Dapeng New District. Each night, themed performances celebrated elements such as “International,” “Culture,” “Technology,” “Innovation,” and “Vibrancy,” highlighting the city’s unique characteristics. The promotional slogan, “From all directions, let’s travel to Guangdong for an even better experience,” invited guests to partake in the festivities. With about 10,000 drones illuminating the night sky, the events attracted an impressive audience of 1.217 million.
One attendee, Ms. Liu, who enjoyed the show at Longhua Guanlanhu Ecological Sports Park, shared her excitement: “I felt my heart race when the giant dragon took flight; it was absolutely breathtaking! I couldn’t wait to share the video with my friends and family.” The commercial districts that hosted these performances, including Shenye Plaza, Dayun Tiandi, and Guanlanhu New Town, saw a surge in visitors and a revenue increase of 65.8%, totaling 203 million yuan.
These drone showcases captured the attention of travelers nationwide, particularly from Hong Kong and Macau, resulting in a staggering 107.1% year-on-year increase in out-of-province visitors to 1.9903 million. Data from Tongcheng Travel indicates that Shenzhen emerged as the most popular destination for domestic hotel bookings during the holiday, while Qunar noted a more than 50% boost in hotel reservations compared to last year. Popular attractions included the Window of the World, Shenzhen Wild Animal Park, Happy Valley, Splendid China Folk Village, and Xiaomeisha Ocean World.
To elevate the tourism experience, Shenzhen distributed 10,000 low-altitude flight experience vouchers, inviting visitors to see the city from an aerial perspective. More than 10,000 tourists took part in helicopter rides, soaring over areas like Futian, Nanshan, and Luohu, allowing them to appreciate the picturesque landscapes and discover the unique allure of the “Sky City.”
Shenzhen also launched the “Deeply Grateful” initiative, encouraging college students to share aerial and underwater adventures with their parents. Ms. Wang, who joined her daughter for the experience, conveyed her thrill: “Seeing Futian’s CBD from above was truly eye-opening!” She highlighted how the innovative mix of low-altitude experiences with tourism and patriotism enriched their holiday spirit and diversified their travel adventures.
Throughout the holiday, Shenzhen hosted a variety of cultural and tourism festivals. Events such as the China-France Consumption Experience Week, Futian International Consumption Week, and the 2024 Shenzhen Play Carnival created vibrant new consumer hotspots.
According to Ctrip, Shenzhen was the second most popular destination for international travelers during this holiday, placing it among the top ten domestic hotspots. One visitor from Chongqing enthusiastically remarked online, “I’ve explored so much of the country, but Shenzhen brilliantly fuses modern civilization with beautiful green ecology. I celebrated the New Year here last year, and I chose to spend the seven-day National Day holiday in Shenzhen again.”
