Hira Cultural District Launches ‘Summer of Hira’ Events

Located next to Jabal Al-Nour, one of Makkah’s most famous landmarks, the district opens its doors daily to visitors from around the world  - SPA
Located next to Jabal Al-Nour, one of Makkah’s most famous landmarks, the district opens its doors daily to visitors from around the world - SPA
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Hira Cultural District Launches ‘Summer of Hira’ Events

Located next to Jabal Al-Nour, one of Makkah’s most famous landmarks, the district opens its doors daily to visitors from around the world  - SPA
Located next to Jabal Al-Nour, one of Makkah’s most famous landmarks, the district opens its doors daily to visitors from around the world - SPA

The Hira Cultural District on Saturday launched the activities of “Summer of Hira,” which will run until Saturday, August 8th.

The events, designed to cater to both residents and visitors of the Makkah Region, include various activities such as 360-degree corners, ice cream and juice service, camel and horse rides, painting workshops, calligraphy sessions, and displays by productive families. Additionally, there will be a kids’ zone, a caravan, and events featuring pets, birds, and a photo contest, SPA reported.

Visitors can also experience a unique cultural journey at the Revelation Exhibition, which features life-sized models of the Cave of Hira and a large screen narrating the story of the revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
Located next to Jabal Al-Nour, one of Makkah’s most famous landmarks, the district opens its doors daily to visitors from around the world, showcasing Saudi Arabia's advancements in developing historical sites and enriching the religious and cultural experience of its guests. The district offers a unique and enriching experience, providing an entertaining, cultural, and historical journey into the past that leaves a lasting impression.
Spanning approximately 67,000 square meters, it accommodates a diverse range of tourists from various nationalities and social segments.



Chinese Travel More during Dragon Boat Holiday but Spending Lags

Spectators watch as participants take part in a dragon boat tug-of-war competition in the waters of Xujiachong harbour to mark the Dragon Boat festival, in Yichang, Hubei province, China May 31, 2025. China Daily via REUTERS
Spectators watch as participants take part in a dragon boat tug-of-war competition in the waters of Xujiachong harbour to mark the Dragon Boat festival, in Yichang, Hubei province, China May 31, 2025. China Daily via REUTERS
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Chinese Travel More during Dragon Boat Holiday but Spending Lags

Spectators watch as participants take part in a dragon boat tug-of-war competition in the waters of Xujiachong harbour to mark the Dragon Boat festival, in Yichang, Hubei province, China May 31, 2025. China Daily via REUTERS
Spectators watch as participants take part in a dragon boat tug-of-war competition in the waters of Xujiachong harbour to mark the Dragon Boat festival, in Yichang, Hubei province, China May 31, 2025. China Daily via REUTERS

Chinese people travelled more over the three-day Dragon Boat holiday this year, but spending remained below pre-pandemic levels, government data showed on Tuesday - indicators that are closely watched as barometers of consumer confidence.

Consumption in the world's second-largest economy has suffered amid sputtering growth and a prolonged property crisis, with uncertainty from the US-China trade war also weighing on consumer confidence.

The latest data painted a mixed picture for China's consumer economy. Travelers took an estimated 119 million domestic journeys from Friday to Monday, up 5.7% from the same holiday period last year, according to the Ministry for Tourism and Culture.

Overall spending over the period rose to 42.73 billion yuan ($5.94 billion, a year-on-year increase of 5.9%, but the average amount spent per traveler was a little under 360 yuan ($50), according to Reuters calculations, remaining stubbornly below 2019 levels of around 410 yuan per trip.

The Dragon Boat Festival took place from May 31 to June 2 - and is celebrated throughout the country with local dragon boat races. Many people take the opportunity to have short holidays, crowding train stations and airports around the country.

Cross-border journeys rose 2.7% to 5.9 million, with 231,000 foreign nationals entering the country visa-free during the holiday, broadcaster CCTV said late on Monday.

China has been expanding its visa policy, with citizens of 43 countries granted visa-free access, while visa-free transit for up to 240 hours in China is available for 54 countries.

Rail lines saw the peak of return passenger flow on June 2, with authorities adding 1,279 trains to more than 11,000 passenger trains overall across the country, while road travel was up 3% year-on-year, with 600 million car journeys recorded, mostly travelling short distances.

Chinese also boosted spending on entertainment over the holiday, with cinema box office revenue reaching 460 million yuan ($63.9 million), surpassing last year’s 384 million yuan, according to data from online ticketing platform Maoyan.

Tom Cruise’s latest movie "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" topped charts, and generated 228 million yuan, half of the total revenue during the holiday period, which was seen as a positive indicator for the upcoming summer season.