China's service consumption has continued its positive momentum with new encouraging trends in the first half of 2026, driven by sustained policies to boost domestic demand and consumption, Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong said at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.
Yan highlighted the role of service consumption in driving growth, and outlined future efforts to improve quality and public benefits.
"Service consumption is both a cornerstone for boosting current consumption and a main engine for future consumption growth. Going forward, we will ensure the implementation of the plan to expand consumption during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), leverage the leading role of the service consumption working mechanism, and promote quality improvement and public benefits in service consumption," Yan said.
In the first half of this year, China's service consumption has shown three prominent "new" features.
First, quality upgrading has brought new offerings, giving rise to greater consumption vitality. Consumer demand has shifted from quantity to quality.
In the first half of the year, retail sales of tourism consulting and leasing services grew by 11.3 percent and 10.4 percent, respectively, while sales revenue from tourism, sightseeing and entertainment services increased by 12.3 percent year on year.
Second, new growth drivers have emerged, making growth engines more active. New business forms such as digital entertainment, online fitness and "internet plus healthcare" have developed rapidly.
In the first half of the year, online service retail sales grew by six percent, and communication and information services maintained relatively fast growth. Inbound consumption remained vibrant, with visa-free entries by overseas visitors increasing by 30.6 percent year on year in the first six months.
Additionally, business models have been updated, making consumption scenes more vibrant. In the first half of the year, sales revenue from immersive experiences such as performing arts and museums grew by 28.3 percent and 24.6 percent, respectively.
The national railway operated 1,797 tourist trains, including 445 customized trains for concert-goers and sports fans, providing consumers with richer and more interesting consumption experiences.
China's service consumption shows steady growth with new trends in H1
