Move over traditional temples and lantern festivals — China's tech hubs and automobile factories became unexpected hotspots during the 2024 Spring Festival. Over 300,000 industrial tourism bookings flooded Beijing alone during the holiday period, with travelers swapping cultural landmarks for hands-on encounters with robotics, AI, and car production lines.
Xiaomi's 718,000-square-meter “smart factory” in the Beijing Economic-Technology Development area emerged as a star attraction. Visitors explored full vehicle manufacturing processes, from welding workshops to AI-driven quality checks, with many parents using the tours as educational opportunities for tech-curious kids.
Industry analysts note this trend reflects growing global interest in:
- Sustainable travel alternatives to crowded tourist sites
- Demystification of advanced manufacturing
- Blending leisure with STEM education
Beijing's economic bureau confirms industrial tourism bookings now account for 15% of all holiday travel activities in the capital — a figure expected to rise as more companies open their facilities to the public.
Reference(s):
China's factory tours emerge as new travel trend in Spring Festival
cgtn.com
