Why younger Malaysians are swapping house visits for holidays this Chinese New Year

Gan (second from right) and her family are looking forward to spending the upcoming Lunar New Year overseas, valuing uninterrupted family time over traditional gatherings. Photos: Peggee Gan

Chinese New Year is traditionally marked by reunion dinners and a flurry of visits to relatives’ homes.

But for a growing number of families, the festive season is taking on a different shape – one that involves passports, boarding passes and shared experiences overseas.