Lingering freezing weather dampens China's Spring Festival tourism

About 50 percent of Beijing tourists for instance have cancelled their vacation plans to southern China, Zhang said, adding that travel agencies were estimated to earn 70 percent less from long-range domestic tours this Spring Festival than last year's same period.

A good news from the coordination office for national holiday tourism under the NTA, however, is the prevalence of temple fairs and other celebrations featuring folklore and custom.