A Chinese online travel platform recommends off-peak travel for markedly lower prices as this year's May Day holiday, running from May 1 to 5, draws closer, which has already witnessed a notable rise in bookings for both international and domestic flights.
China has seen growing popularity in inbound tourism, driven by recent measures for foreign travelers such as instant tax refunds.
Data from online travel platforms showed that as of now, inbound travel bookings for this year's May Day holiday have surged by 173 percent year on year, with South Korea, Japan, and Singapore emerging as the top source markets for foreign travelers to China.
Meanwhile, some short to medium-haul outbound destinations have become popular choices for Chinese tourists during the May Day holiday.
According to data from Fliggy, one of the country's leading travel platforms, as of Thursday, over 1.03 million flight tickets for inbound and outbound routes during the holiday have been booked, indicating an increase of about 25 percent compared to the same period last year.
"In terms of prices, off-peak travel before the May Day holiday is more cost-effective. For example, round-trip flights between Beijing and Kuala Lumpur from May 1 to 5, excluding overnight flights, cost over 7,400 yuan (around 1,015.3 U.S. dollars), while the same flights booked for April 29 to May 3 are half the price. Round-trip flights between Beijing and Hangzhou from May 1 to 5, excluding overnight flights, cost nearly 3,000 yuan (around 411.7 U.S. dollars), while the same flights for April 29 to May 3 are priced below 1,000 yuan (around 137.2 U.S. dollars), down over 60 percent," said Liu Ting, a researcher at the Big Data Research Institute of Chinese online travel platform Qunar.
China's travel platform advises off-peak May Day holiday travel for lower prices
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Iran has obtained extensive documents and evidence linking the recent unrest across the country to the U.S. and Israel, noting that Mossad agents attempted to direct such "terrorist acts."
Araghchi said at a press conference in Tehran that since Dec 28, 2025, Iran had seen peaceful demonstrations organized by industry associations and economic professional. In the following days, more participants joined, and the situation gradually escalated from peaceful rallies into violent clashes.
Beginning on Jan 8, terrorists and armed groups carrying weapons entered protest sites and opened fire on police and civilians, with the aim of steering demonstrations toward violence, bloodshed and chaos, he said.
"Israeli media reports are rife with claims that Israel has designed and conducted operations in Iran. Mr. [Mike] Pompeo, who was Trump's CIA director, said on his X that 'Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them.' This clearly shows that Mossad agents attempted to direct such terrorist acts," the minister said. Addressing military threats from the U.S. and Israel, Araghchi said Iran does not seek war but is fully prepared to face up to war. He added that Iran is ready for serious and pragmatic negotiations with the U.S., but the talks must be based on fairness, equality and mutual respect, rather than unilateral pressure or directives from Washington.
On the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the U.S. and Israel at a regular press briefing in Tehran. He said the two countries have made "extensive interventionist remarks" regarding Iran's situation, saying such statements are intended to foment chaos, violence and instability.
The spokesman said Iran is closely monitoring the development of the situation and remains fully prepared, warning that Iran's armed forces will respond to any act of aggression by its enemies.
Mossad agents attempt to direct terrorist acts: Iranian FM
