China Heritage Tourism Market Size, Share, By Type (Cultural Heritage, Natural Heritage, And Intangible Heritage), By Age Group (Below 30, 31-50, 51-70, And Above 70), By Booking Mode (Online And Offline), And China Heritage Tourism Market Insights, Industry Trend, Forecasts to 2035

China Heritage Tourism Market Size Insights Forecasts to 2035

• China Heritage Tourism Market Size 2024: USD 82.6 Bn
• China Heritage Tourism Market Size 2035:  USD 142.7 Bn
• China Heritage Tourism Market CAGR 2024: 5.1%
• China Heritage Tourism Market Segments: Type, Age Group, and Booking Mode

China Heritage Tourism Market Size describes travelling and tourism activities where travellers visit China to experience an authentic connection to the culture, history, and traditions of China’s historical heritage. Heritage tourism includes engagement with tangible heritage sites, ancient temples, shrines, castles, and historic districts. Heritage tourism allows patrons to physically explore the historical heritage sites of China and relive a portion of China’s rich cultural and historic development through story telling which articulate a deeper understanding of China’s history and regional activities for both domestic and international patrons who are focused on achieving cultural enrichment and historical understanding as part of their respective experiences.

The heritage tourism in China are backed by government support, including the China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Natural Resources, and Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development jointly announced a plan to create national demonstration zones aimed at further integrating cultural resources with tourism development. The China heritage tourism market size was estimated at approximately USD 85.52 billion in 2024, with expectations of continued growth due in part to strong government emphasis on preservation and tourism infrastructure development.

As technology advances, Chinese heritage tourism providers are using travel planning platform or app that are available to pre-book tickets to have access to personalized, interactive maps related to that site, have access to multiple language options for the guide; and have an augmented reality experience of that heritage site. This makes it much easier for local and foreign travelers alike to plan their trips and enjoy them through the use of these technologies. In addition to improving access and convenience, these technologies allow for a richer and more interactive communication of heritage narratives, which provides a higher degree of overall engagement with heritage tourism products.

Market Dynamics of the China Heritage Tourism Market:

The China Heritage Tourism Market Size is driven by the China’s abundant and well-preserved cultural and historical assets, rising global interest in experiential and meaningful travel, improving transportation networks and accessibility, and concerted promotional efforts by government agencies and tourism organizations, technological advancements, and rising disposable incomes further encourage international travelers to explore the country’s heritage offerings. 

The China Heritage Tourism Market Size is restrained by the seasonal fluctuations in visitation patterns, uneven demand for heritage sites throughout the year, and infrastructure and service limitations in some rural or less-developed heritage regions.

The future of China Heritage Tourism Market Size is bright and promising, with versatile opportunities emerging from the developing niche and experiential styles of connecting tourists with local cultures in more meaningful ways than ever before. There is also an opportunity for cross-regional heritage trails, themed itineraries between various cultural sites, and collaborations between technology providers and cultural institutions, which can create more immersive visitor experiences. Through the combination of its vast heritage assets and targeted marketing and inclusive development strategies, China will remain a destination for culturally motivated travellers who seek deeper and more authentic travel opportunities.

Market Segmentation

The China Heritage Tourism Market share is classified into type, age group, and booking mode.

By Type:

The China Heritage Tourism Market Size is divided by type into cultural heritage, natural heritage, and intangible heritage. Among these, the cultural heritage segment held the largest revenue market share in 2024 and is predicted to grow at a remarkable CAGR during the forecast period. Well-preserved inventory of physical cultural sites, rise of experiential travel providing deeper emotional connections, and strong government support all contribute to the cultural heritage segment's largest share and higher spending on heritage tourism when compared to other type.

By Age Group:

The China Heritage Tourism Market Size is divided by age group into below 30, 31-50, 51-70, and above 70. Among these, the 51-70 segment dominated the share in 2024 and is anticipated to grow at a remarkable CAGR during the forecast period. The 51-70 segment dominates because of increasing disposable income and time, strong preference for culturing enriching, preference for organized travel that provide higher trust and personalization, and a deep appreciation for traditional cultural experiences.

By Booking Mode:

The China Heritage Tourism Market Size is divided by booking mode into online and offline. Among these, the offline segment held the largest market share in 2024 and is predicted to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Strong preferences for personalized service, expert local insights, trust, and the complexity of planning multi-destination cultural trips all contribute to the offline segment's largest share and higher spending on heritage tourism when compared to other booking mode.

Competitive Analysis:

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organisations/companies involved within the China Heritage Tourism Market Size, along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market.

Top Key Companies in China Heritage Tourism Market:

• China Tourism Group
• Jin Jiang International Holdings
• Huazhu Group,
• BTG Homeinns Hotels Group
• China International Travel Service
• China Youth Travel Service
• Caissa Touristic
• Spring Tour International Travel Service
• CTS Travel Group
• Tongcheng-Elong Holdings Ltd.
• Marriott International
• Hilton Worldwide Holdings
• InterContinental Hotels Group
• Accor SA
• Hyatt Hotels Corp.
• Others

Recent Developments in China Heritage Tourism Market:

• In September 2025, National Cultural & Tourism Consumption Month launched by the Ministry of Cultural and Tourism, this initiative provided subsidies to encourage cultural spending during the National Day holiday, integrating heritage into daily experiences.

• In May 2025, “Nihao! China 2025” Promotion campaign aimed to boost overseas tourism by showcasing China’s rich cultural heritage, with events like the launch in Turpan, Xinjiang, featuring discussions on sustainable heritage tourism.

Key Target Audience

• Market Players
• Investors
• End-users
• Government Authorities 
• Consulting and Research Firm
• Venture capitalists
• Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at the China, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2035. Spherical Insights has segmented the China Heritage Tourism Market Size based on the below-mentioned segments:

China Heritage Tourism Market, By Type

• Cultural Heritage
• Natural Heritage
• Intangible Heritage

China Heritage Tourism Market, By Age Group

• Below 30
• 31-50
• 51-70
• Above 70

China Heritage Tourism Market, By Booking Type

• Online
• Offline