The 2018 National Day holiday was a golden week for tourism. Millions took to the skies, railways and roads to see family and to travel, giving the domestic tourism market a special, personal touch.

Have camera, will travel. Going where you please with just your smartphone, and maybe a friend or two opens a new world of personalized and experiential tourism. A growing trend, say the experts.

“We see an increase in the quality of consumer demand. People are no longer satisfied with just looking around. They want a more in-depth experience,” said Bai Ming, deputy director of the International Market Research Institute of the Ministry of Commerce.

According to the latest stats released by the Ministry of Commerce, new consumption patterns are fast becoming the norm. Customized travel experiences and shared homestays allow virtually anywhere to be a destination. And mobile payments are undoubtedly the way to go. During the Golden Week, bookings on short-term rental platforms and shared homes were up five times over last year, with customized travel sales increasing more than 50 percent. And with a few simple taps on the smartphone, consumers can quickly satisfy their needs for food, travel and entertainment.

“During the Golden Week, the scattered holidays are combined into a long vacation. Consumption time is extended. At the same time, people have the chance to travel far. And with 1.4 billion people, consumption space is expanding,” Bai Ming said.

The Ministry of Commerce reports 502 million passenger trips traveled domestically from October 1 through 4. That’s an 8.8 percent increase from last year. Domestic tourism revenue rose to 60.4 billion dollars, an 8.1 percent jump.