The warm breeze is rising, it's time for a trip. The latest data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism shows that during the just passed May Day holiday, 325 million domestic tourists traveled nationwide, a year-on-year increase of 3.6%; The total domestic travel expenditure was 185.492 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.9%. The cultural and tourism economy is surging, and holiday consumption is full of vitality. When we expand our focus from a holiday to the whole year, we can better feel the surging vitality of the cultural and tourism industry. The annual data previously released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the added value of China's cultural and related industries accounted for 4.61% of GDP, while the added value of tourism and related industries accounted for 4.35% of GDP. From holiday "traffic" to year-round "constant", the weight of the cultural and tourism industry in the national economy is quietly rising, becoming an important force that cannot be ignored. This is not only a change in industrial ranking, but also reflects a profound shift in the driving force structure of China's economic growth - the role of service consumption as a "booster" in the domestic demand engine is becoming increasingly prominent and accelerating to become an important driving force for economic progress. This change intuitively reflects the upgrading of China's consumption structure. In the past, when it came to consumption, people mostly thought of buying something; Nowadays, a spontaneous trip, an immersive cultural immersion, and a unique taste of intangible cultural heritage cuisine are becoming more and more lifestyle options that people are willing to pay for. The connotation of consumption is being redefined from "what to possess" to "what to experience", from satisfying survival to enriching the spirit. Entering 2026, this momentum remains strong: during this year's Spring Festival holiday, 596 million people traveled domestically, spending over 800 billion yuan on tourism, breaking records; In the first quarter, the revenue of cultural enterprises above designated size in China exceeded 3.5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6.4%. Behind these numbers is the growing weight of spiritual and cultural needs on the scale of consumption, as the aspirations of over 1.4 billion Chinese people for a better life are shifting from "whether they exist" to "whether they are good or not". Looking at the world, the cultural and tourism industry in some developed countries accounts for over 20% of the national economy. The current level of data in our country not only indicates a solid foundation, but also reveals vast development space. The cultural and tourism industry has become an important source of happiness and sense of gain for the people, as well as an important driving force to boost consumption and drive growth. So, starting from the GDP proportion figures, where exactly is the "new" outlook for the Chinese economy? The novelty of the new landscape lies in the fact that cultural tourism is becoming a livelihood industry that benefits every household. In the past, when it came to cultural tourism, people mostly thought of scenic spot tickets. Today, the tentacles of cultural and tourism have extended to counties, villages, and ordinary alleys. Meituan data shows that during this year's May Day holiday, the theme of intangible cultural heritage tourism continues to heat up. Intangible cultural heritage workshops drive employment and income growth, rural tourism unleashes the effect of enriching the people, and the cultural and tourism industry is playing a tangible role in people's livelihoods, allowing the development dividends to benefit more ordinary people. The novelty of the new landscape lies in the fact that cultural tourism is becoming a nourishing and happy industry. The upgrading of consumption structure is essentially the inner projection of people's longing for a better life. From themed bookstores on urban street corners to art festivals in rural fields, cultural and tourism consumption is no longer an optional "decoration", but a "necessity" to improve the quality of life and nourish the spiritual world. The novelty of the new landscape lies in the fact that cultural tourism is becoming a pillar industry that empowers development. The outline of the 15th Five Year Plan clearly proposes to vigorously develop the cultural tourism industry and empower economic and social development with culture. This year's government work report also emphasizes the high-quality development of cultural tourism industry and the enrichment of integrated formats such as cultural tourism, sports, and commerce. This means that the cultural and tourism industry is increasingly moving from the "periphery" to the "center", and from "supporting" to "leading". It covers the entire chain of "food, accommodation, transportation, travel, shopping, and entertainment", directly driving related industries such as catering, accommodation, and transportation. Through the "culture and tourism+" model, it deeply integrates with commerce, sports, education, health and wellness, and gives birth to endless new scenes and formats. At the same time, the international appeal of Chinese cultural tourism is also continuously increasing. By 2025, the number of inbound tourists in China will exceed 150 million, a year-on-year increase of over 17%; The cost of inbound tourism exceeded 130 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of nearly 40%. Becoming Chinese "has become a hot topic on the internet, reflecting foreign tourists' longing for China. From "China Tour" to "China Purchase" and then to "China Service", cultural tourism is becoming an important engine for the rise of service trade, showcasing a trustworthy, lovely, and respectable image of China to the world. The cultural and tourism industry is no longer just a "scenery", but has become a solid bridge connecting tradition and the future, integrating culture and economy, and communicating between China and the world. When the upgrading of consumption structure resonates with the optimization of industrial structure, and when cultural confidence and economic momentum nourish each other, a more warm and substantial picture of high-quality development is slowly unfolding. (Looking into the New Era)