(Yicai) Oct. 13 -- Domestic travel in China is continuing to flourish in the wake of this year’s Golden Week holiday, as many travelers chose to avoid the crowds over the eight-day break that ended on Oct. 6.

Bookings have doubled from a year ago for the two months following Golden Week, data from Trip.Com, China’s biggest online travel agency, showed yesterday. Air fares for flights between the first day after Golden Week and Oct. 31 averaged CNY702 (USD96), including taxes, on Oct. 11, a third cheaper than over the holiday, per the data.

Lower prices are no doubt one of the main reasons for the uptick in domestic travel. Air fares and hotel prices plunged after the holiday, according to figures from a number of travel platforms. During Golden Week, hotels near popular scenic spots had raised their room rates three-fold. 

According to Trip.Com, package tours have become 30 percent to 50 percent cheaper since Oct. 6. Online travel agency Ly.Com is offers many airfares at discounts of more than 90 percent. 

Travelers making bookings for the next two months are mainly under 40 years of age, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the total, a Trip.Com report showed. Up to 46 percent of bookings were for longer trips, with Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Xi’an being the most popular destinations.

Car rentals surges from late October through November every year, according to Trip.Com's data. As the Double 11 shopping festival around Nov. 11 approaches, a mini peak in car travel is also expected.

Editor: Martin Kadiev