Global gold demand soared to a record high of 5,002 tonnes in 2025 amid continued geopolitical and economic uncertainties, the World Gold Council said in a report on Thursday.
These uncertainties propelled hefty investment in gold, lifting the total value to an unprecedented 555 billion U.S. dollars, up 45 percent from a year earlier, according to the council's annual gold demand trends report.
Meanwhile, investment demand for the precious metal surged by 84 percent to reach 2,175 tonnes, driven by geopolitical tensions and a search for safe-haven assets. This investor rush drove price of gold to a record high, surpassing 5,500 U.S. dollars per ounce at one point.
Demand for physical gold products like bars and coins also held firm, with global purchases totaling 1,374 tons, valued at 154 billion U.S. dollars.
Despite an 18 percent year-on-year decline in global demand for gold jewelry in 2025, driven by record-high gold prices, consumer spending in this category still grew by 18 percent to reach 172 billion U.S. dollars. This divergence underscores the lasting appeal of gold jewelry to consumers.
Looking ahead, the Council anticipates that robust demand will continue throughout 2026, supported by ongoing economic and political concerns.
Gold demand hits record high in 2025: World Gold Council
Gold demand hits record high in 2025: World Gold Council
Gold demand hits record high in 2025: World Gold Council
Scenic spots across China have all seen surging tourist flow during the Qingming Festival holiday as people are going outdoors to enjoy good springtime.
Falling on April 5 this year, the Qingming Festival, or the Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tributes to ancestors. The three-day holiday from Saturday to Monday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens to enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing in pleasant springtime temperatures.
At the Fenghuanggou scenic spot in Nanchang City, east China's Jiangxi Province, a vast field of hydrangeas bloom across the hillsides. The colorful hydrangeas spread out in well-arranged patchwork, making visitors feel as if they have stepped into a dreamlike world of flowers.
Tourists stroll among the blossoms, with some slowing down to quietly take in the scenery and others raising cameras to capture memories, relaxing both body and mind amidst the fragrance of flowers and the spring sunshine.
"Walking through a sea of flowers like this and seeing such beautiful blossoms make me feel the vitality of spring while completely escaping the hustle and bustle of the city," said Xu Geyu, a tourist.
Continuing on from the hydrangea sea, the scenic spot's cherry blossom is also in the best viewing period. Unlike ordinary cherry blossom groves, the cherry trees here are interplanted among tea bushes that stretch across the mountainsides, creating distinct layers and forming a unique landscape.
This year, the scenic spot has leveraged its sericulture and other specialty ecological industries to create new business models that integrate agriculture and tourism, providing a variety of mulberry-leaf-flavored snacks and drinks for tourists.
"We tried mulberry-flavored coffee and mulberry-leaf-flavored ice cream -- both were delicious. They are the flavors that we've never tasted before. I think they are quite special," said Ye Zitong, another tourist.
Meanwhile, the Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park in central China's Hunan Province has also welcomed a peak in visitors. With fine weather and wild mountain flowers in full bloom, the scenic spot has become a popular destination for flower viewing and mountaineering, brimming with the liveliness and vitality of spring.
In springtime, The Tianmen Mountain features layered peaks covered in a profusion of flowers. Pink-white and bright red blossoms dot the dramatic mountain ridges, creating a stunning spring landscape painting.
"I feel it's quite magnificent. It's even more magnificent and beautiful after I climbed 999 steps to the Tianmen Cave. It's also very cool there. I really love it," said Ai Sichen, another tourist.
According to the preliminary statistics from the scenic spot, on the first day of the Qingming Festival holiday, the park welcomed over 20,000 visitors.
Furthermore, at the Hukou Waterfall scenic spot on the Yellow River at the border of the northern province of Shanxi and the northwestern province of Shaanxi, the roaring Yellow River water plunges dramatically. Illuminated by sunlight, a rainbow appears spanning both banks, creating a magnificent spring scene that draws many tourists.
Scenic spots across China see surging tourist flow during Qingming Festival holiday
