Young Chinese Flip Tradition, Invite Parents to Their Cities

After five exhausting Spring Festivals spent traveling back to her rural hometown, Liu Mengjie made a bold decision: she asked her parents to come to Shanghai instead. The shift transformed a dreaded obligation into a holiday she actually looked forward to.

Liu's story captures a growing movement across China. For years, she faced grueling trips home involving scrambled ticket bookings, long train rides, and a full day on a rattling county bus just to reach her family.

Once there, the pressure mounted. Relatives she barely knew would grill her about her salary, marriage plans, and when she'd have children. By the end of the holiday, she felt more drained than after a full work week.

This year felt different. Now living in her own Shanghai apartment with a newly adopted dog, Liu finally felt rooted in the city. When she suggested her parents make the journey instead, they initially resisted. "Can we really not be home for the New Year?" they asked.

The trend has exploded nationwide. Flight bookings linked to "reverse Spring Festival" celebrations rose 84% in February compared to last year, with major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou becoming popular destinations. Travel bookings by passengers aged 60 and above climbed more than 35%, with many departing from smaller cities to visit their children in urban centers.

The record nine-day holiday break this year gave families more flexibility to reunite on their own terms. Social media posts about the trend have drawn millions of views, with young people describing traditional homecomings as exhausting obligations filled with difficult travel and overwhelming family gatherings.

Why This Inspires

Liu carefully planned her parents' visit to blend comfort with tradition. She ordered premium dishes from a hotel for New Year's Eve but left a few family recipes for them to cook together. "I don't want Mom slaving away in the kitchen, but I also don't want to lose that warm feeling of us cooking together," she explained.

After dinner, they'll take a short trip to neighboring Zhejiang province, enjoying readily available train tickets and affordable hotels. It's a lighter, more relaxed version of the holiday she remembers from childhood.

Zhang Yina, a professor at Fudan University, sees the shift as Gen Z prioritizing rest and personal fulfillment. The Spring Festival's meaning has expanded beyond traditional reunions toward celebrations that feel restorative and tailored to individual lives.

She predicts a "dual-track" future where traditional homecomings remain culturally significant while travel and leisure become equally accepted ways to mark the season. People will simply choose whatever makes them feel most at ease.

For 30-year-old Ji Yi from Nanjing, taking his parents on short getaways during Spring Festival has become a new tradition. His father initially grumbled about leaving home but was the first to head for the hot springs once they arrived at their hotel.

Ji recalls an unhurried breakfast on the third day of the New Year with no relatives to visit and no schedule to keep. "My parents seemed completely at ease," he said. "That kind of celebration made me feel that Spring Festival had truly become a time to rest."

The movement isn't about escaping family but creating space for deeper conversations and genuine companionship in relaxed settings. As more young Chinese take the lead, their parents are discovering that change can feel surprisingly good.