Trips overseas replace Chinese New Year treks to grandma’s

Growing affluence has increased the Chinese disposable income which they are happy to spend on new adventures in favourite destinations such as Japan. Photos: Bloomberg

Shi Ying won’t be making the traditional pilgrimage back to Shanghai to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday with her extended family. Instead, they’re all going to Japan for shopping and sightseeing.

That new custom lets her family bypass the mobs, clogged roads and subways, lousy customer services – and boredom – that can mark holidays at home. During the past few celebrations, Shi and her relatives left China for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the US.