Parents Flock to Shanghai for 'Reverse' Chinese New Year

For Yu originally from Jiangsu Province, this year's Spring Festival won't involve a chaotic train ride home. Instead, he has brought his mother to Shanghai for a "reverse" celebration.

"Mom, I've booked tickets for the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum and the Horse Year Exhibition," Yu told her, according to Jiefang Daily. Their holiday itinerary is packed: a cruise on the Huangpu River, lantern viewing at the City God Temple, and a stay at the garden-style Dongjiao State Guest Hotel.

Yu's family is part of a growing trend of "reverse New Year" travel, where elderly parents visit their children in big cities rather than the other way around.

Smart Savings

Economics is a major driver. During the chunyun travel rush, tickets from first-tier cities like Shanghai to hometowns are scarce and expensive. Conversely, flights into major hubs are often deeply discounted.

Data shows that on February 14, a flight from Shanghai to Taiyuan costs over 1,800 yuan (US$250). However, the reverse trip is just over 400 yuan, a saving of nearly 1,400 yuan per person.

"The money saved on tickets can be used to upgrade our holiday experience," said one netizen, echoing a common sentiment among young professionals who are using the savings to book better hotels and dining experiences for their parents.

Silver-Haired

Shanghai's mix of modern and traditional attractions makes it an ideal destination for seniors. Travel platforms report a 56 percent year-on-year increase in hotel bookings by travelers over 60 for the 2026 Spring Festival.

Shanghai Disney Resort has surprisingly emerged as a favorite for this demographic, as children take their parents to "feel young again." Other popular spots include the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai Museum.

"Home is where the family is," said Yu. As more parents become open to travel, the definition of a traditional reunion is evolving from "returning to the hometown" to simply "being together," wherever that may be.