Core Insights - The "Super Golden Week" holiday has commenced, showcasing a trend of decentralized tourism destinations with significant growth in emerging locations while traditional popular spots remain highly visited [1][5] - There are currently 16,500 A-level scenic spots in China, with 358 classified as 5A, representing about 2% of the total, highlighting their scarcity and appeal [1][5] - Jiangsu province leads with 26 5A scenic spots, followed by Zhejiang and Xinjiang/Sichuan with 22 and 18 respectively [1] Industry Overview - The 5A scenic spots generate spillover effects and multiplier impacts, driving the entire consumption chain and progressively influencing the surrounding regions, prompting many cities to include the development of 5A scenic spots in their planning [5] - Since the first batch of 66 5A scenic spots was designated in 2007, the number has expanded significantly, with 41 new spots added in 2024, bringing the total to 358 [5][8] - The increase in 5A scenic spots has led to diverse choices but also raised concerns regarding high ticket prices, inadequate reception capacity, outdated facilities, and excessive commercialization [5] Rating System - The concept of "5A scenic spot" was introduced in the 2003 version of the "Tourism Scenic Spot Quality Rating and Assessment," which includes a strict scoring system with a total of 1,000 points, requiring at least 950 points for a 5A rating [8][9] - A dynamic management mechanism was implemented in 2015 to address the lack of an exit strategy for underperforming 5A scenic spots, allowing for the removal or rectification of non-compliant sites [8] - The first scenic spot to be downgraded was the Qinhuangdao Shanhaiguan Scenic Area due to issues like price fraud and poor environmental conditions, which was reinstated in 2018 after improvements [8] Recent Developments - A new national standard for tourism scenic spot quality ratings was implemented in March this year, replacing the previous standard that had been in place for 21 years, marking a new evaluation phase for scenic spots [10]