Chinese New Year: Young People Opting Out of Homecoming Amid Economic Challenges
As the Chinese New Year approaches, many young people in China are choosing to forgo the traditional homecoming celebrations due to economic challenges and personal circumstances. The Lunar New Year is typically a time for family reunions, but this year, a growing number of young individuals are opting to stay away from their hometowns.
One such person is Yuwen, a 33-year-old who has been unemployed for over six months. He expresses his reluctance to go back home, stating, “If I had the choice, I definitely wouldn’t go back home.” Yuwen’s apprehension stems from the fact that he will face scrutiny from relatives about his job situation, including salaries and benefits. Despite his parents’ understanding of his unemployment, they have agreed to lie to relatives and claim that he still has his old job. Additionally, Yuwen plans to spend only three days with his family, significantly less than the usual week-long celebration.
Yuwen’s sentiments are echoed by hundreds of young people who have taken to social media platforms like Xiaohongshu and Weibo to express their decision not to go home for the festival. Many of these individuals are also facing unemployment or economic instability. Official data released in June 2023 revealed that over 20% of city-dwellers aged between 16 and 24 in China were unemployed. Although the figure now stands at 14.9%, excluding students, the economic downturn and lack of post-Covid recovery have contributed to a confidence crisis among investors.
Yuwen’s personal experience reflects the impact of government crackdowns on private enterprises. In 2014, he pursued a graduate degree in Chinese language education in Beijing, hoping to benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative launched by President Xi Jinping. After graduating, he found a job at a private tutoring company but was forced to change careers when the Chinese government banned for-profit tutoring in 2021. Yuwen then joined a big tech company, but the regulatory crackdown on the tech industry and threats of sanctions from the US led to the closure of his company’s overseas operations. Despite sending out over 1,000 job applications in the past six months, Yuwen has not received any offers.
Another individual, fitness trainer Qingfeng, has decided to travel alone during the Chinese New Year instead of going home. Qingfeng left his job as a fitness instructor due to low pay and lost most of his savings in the stock market. He is uncertain about building a customer base at his new gym due to the economic downturn and the closure of many large gyms with high debts.
Apart from economic challenges, some young Chinese individuals, particularly single women like Xiaoba, are avoiding homecoming to escape pressure from their families to get married and settle down. China’s declining birth rate and shrinking population have raised concerns about losing young workers who are crucial for the country’s economy. However, young people are increasingly reluctant to marry and have children, leading to a decline in registered marriages for nine consecutive years.
Despite the challenges they face, individuals like Yuwen and Xiaoba remain hopeful for the future. Yuwen believes in his determination and refuses to give up, even though he expresses skepticism about the economy in 2024. Xiaoba, on the other hand, plans to spend the Lunar New Year with her cat and enjoy the CCTV New Year’s Gala from her rented flat in Shenzhen.
The decision of young people to opt-out of homecoming during the Chinese New Year reflects the economic difficulties and personal circumstances they are facing. As China grapples with an uncertain economic future and societal pressures, it remains to be seen how these challenges will shape the traditions and celebrations of future Lunar New Year festivals.