Plan Cross-City Trips for Concerts: What Are Young Fans Really Paying For?

Have you ever traveled to an unfamiliar city for a concert?

Today, "Lock in a show, then unlock the city" is emerging as the go-to travel playbook for a growing number of young people. But their journey goes far beyond cheering for their idols. Ticking off must-try local dishes, wandering through cultural and historical spots, and bringing home a few unique specialties—a single concert is now weaving together an entire travel experience. And the "concert economy" is quietly becoming a new driver of urban consumption.

According to statistics from the China Association of Performing Arts, a total of 2,496 large-scale concerts were held across the country in 2025, generating box office revenue of 29.558 billion yuan, with attendance surging by 30.8% year-on-year. Industry estimates also show that every 1 yuan spent on tickets drives approximately 6.85 yuan in related consumption across dining, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment. Meanwhile, cross-city concert-going has become the new norm, as over 60% of attendees at major concerts and music festivals now travel from other cities. Even more noteworthy is that young people remain the core consumer group in the performance market, with those under 35 accounting for more than 75% of audiences in new performance spaces.

As young fans plan cross-city trips for shows, how can a single concert turn a "fleeting visit" into a "lasting stay"? Follow this episode of "GenZ Pop Quiz" to find the answer.

Chief Producer: Zhao Haijian

Supervising Producer: Huang Yanshu

Content: Huang Zihao, Wu Wanjie

Poster: Li Jili

Overseas Operations Supervising Producer: Huang Yanshu

Overseas Content Coordinator: Huang Zihao

Overseas Operations Editors: Zhuang Huan, Wu Wanjie, Long Lihua, Zheng Quanyi

Produced by: Southern Finance Media Corp.