In China, the economic situation is not good, and people complained that there was no festive atmosphere during the Chinese New Year. In 2026, the lunar new year, a trend emerged among young people in China called “group dining for the New Year’s Eve dinner,” which served as a way to alleviate the loneliness of the holiday season while saving money.
Mr. Huang from Longhua, Shenzhen, told reporters from Dajiyuan on the evening of February 16 that he initiated a “group dining for the New Year’s Eve dinner” online. Over twenty netizens responded, and they organized a potluck-style dinner.
When contacted by the reporters, they were already eating. Mr. Huang said, “We have started eating; none of us went home for the New Year. We tally up how much we spent on food, then split the bill equally among everyone. Additionally, each person contributes some money to the organizer, who arranges some games to play, costing around 200 yuan per person. We eat, play games, and then head to a club to party until around 5 a.m.”
Some people opted not to go to restaurants but instead chose to have a potluck dinner at home, bringing their own dishes to save money.
Ms. Tang, who stayed in Shenzhen during the Lunar New Year, on February 16 told Dajiyuan, “This year, I stayed in Shenzhen for the New Year and had a potluck with my friends at my rented house. We didn’t collect money; everyone brought some dishes. There were five of us. My hometown is in Guangxi, but this year, I didn’t want to go back, so I celebrated the New Year in Shenzhen.”
A man from Guangxi named Xiaotong told reporters, “I also wanted to have a potluck; I posted online, but no one has showed up yet. Group dining allows for more dishes and flavors to enjoy.”
Several mainland Chinese official media outlets and local newspapers also reported on the phenomenon of “group dining,” “joining a group dinner,” and “small table gatherings” during the Lunar New Year.
Xinhua News Agency reported on February 16 that Ling, a migrant worker from Jilin working in Chongqing, had organized a “New Year’s Eve dinner group” for the third year in a row. She gathered with 11 other young people who didn’t go back home for the holidays to share hometown specialties. China News Network also mentioned that many people opt for small family or friend gatherings, with restaurants offering suitable small table packages to enhance the reunion atmosphere rather than extravagant large tables.
On February 17, Sina Finance reported that Xiaozhang from Shanxi participated in a group dinner for the Lunar New Year in Guangzhou on New Year’s Eve: “In the past, I spent the New Year alone, eating takeout in front of the TV, feeling lonely. This year, I immediately signed up when I saw the recruitment post in the online group. Here, no one asks about your salary or relationship status; everyone just shares delicious food and mood.”
The trend of young people in China arranging to dine together with strangers for the Lunar New Year feast has gained attention in recent years. Cover News, a Chinese media outlet, also covered this phenomenon during last year’s Lunar New Year.
There are several discussions online in China about “group dining for the Lunar New Year.” Some believe that it provides an opportunity for young people who couldn’t go back home for the holiday to come together, easing loneliness and pressure. Others think that sharing the cost of the festive dinner is economical and allows for a diverse range of dishes. Some even go as far as livestreaming their New Year’s Eve dinner on social platforms to make friends and earn money while dining. Additionally, some join group dinners during New Year’s Eve with hopes of meeting a potential spouse and addressing their single status.
Xiaoya, a property manager in Chengdu, Sichuan, and a former soldier who is single, revealed that the traditional New Year atmosphere is no longer present in his hometown. He mentioned that his parents had dinner in the community and then played mahjong together within the neighborhood, neglecting to watch the Spring Festival Gala, a traditional cultural program broadcasted on television during the Chinese New Year. Xiaoya spent the evening in his dormitory, buying groceries, having a drink, and going to bed. According to him, people in southern China are not fond of watching the Gala show.
He willingly applied to work during the New Year period to earn extra money, providing him with a sense of security.
Xiaoya shared that Chengdu is currently facing economic challenges, with physical stores struggling to operate, low incomes, high prices, and a high unemployment rate. He anticipates that this year will be even more challenging compared to previous years, leaving him uncertain about the future and prompting feelings of confusion.
Chen Cheng from Beijing mentioned that the current economic situation is poor, resulting in a lack of the traditional festive atmosphere during the Lunar New Year. He stated that compared to previous years, this year can be described as chaotic.
Chen noted that he didn’t save much money working away from home this year, and some of his friends were unemployed for various reasons. Expressing doubt about the optimistic official economic reports, he shared his skepticism towards the situation, causing him to watch the CCTV New Year’s Gala less frequently, as he believes that it’s challenging to find the truth in mainland China.
A man named Dongdong from Zhengzhou, Henan, who works in Harbin, returned to Zhengzhou for the New Year but felt the lack of a festive atmosphere, saying, “There is no real meaning to the New Year this year; firecrackers are forbidden, and it seems like there are far fewer people in my hometown, diminishing the festive atmosphere.”