China has announced that the number of domestic trips and the amount of spending during the Lunar New Year holidays have surpassed 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Sunday announced that some 474 million domestic trips were made during the 8-day break from February 10.

The figure represents a rise of 19 percent over the same period five years ago, before the coronavirus pandemic struck.

The ministry says travelers spent 632.6 billion yuan, or 87.9 billion dollars, during this period, a 47.3 percent rise from the year before and a 7.7 percent increase from 2019.

The announcement comes amid China's slow economic recovery against the backdrop of a weak real estate market.

The country's state-run media is suggesting the domestic economy is brisk.

For international trips, the ministry says some 3.6 million were made during the holidays, amounting to a figure close to 2019 levels. Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asian countries were the most popular destinations.