China Policy Update — 15 May 2026

policy • 15 May 2026

According to **China Business Review**, China’s tourism demand is increasingly shifting toward “experiences, not landmarks,” and that trend is helping drive new hotel and destination development in smaller but fast-rising cities. The report notes strong recent booking growth in places like **Jingdezhen** and **Yibin**, underscoring how travelers are branching out beyond the biggest gateways in search of culture-rich, easier-to-navigate trips. For American travelers, that often translates into better hotel availability, more curated stays, and improving local tourism services in secondary destinations. On the hotel side, **Hyatt** has expanded its upper-midscale China pipeline through a new partnership with **Dossen Group** to develop **Hyatt Select** properties across mainland China, a move aimed at delivering consistent, value-conscious stays in more markets. In a separate development, industry coverage also points to continued growth in **Hangzhou** and **Nanjing**, where new branded openings are strengthening business- and leisure-travel infrastructure. For trip planning, this means more internationally familiar hotel choices in cities that are becoming increasingly practical for multi-stop China itineraries.

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