【Epoch Times News on January 30, 2025】China’s economy continues to decline, with companies across various industries cutting jobs and reducing salaries, squeezing the spending power of the people. As the Chinese New Year approaches, young people are coming up with new ways to save money by exchanging homes with residents from other locations through social media platforms to cut down on hotel expenses. The topic of “swapping homes for the New Year” has surged in popularity.
According to reports from mainland Chinese media outlets, as the Chinese New Year approaches, more and more people are exchanging homes with families from other regions through social media platforms – “You come to my home, I go to yours” – in order to save on travel and accommodation expenses. The majority of those participating in home swaps are from the generations born after 1995 and 2000.
Hou Yunhao, who resides in Harbin, wanted to take his family to Fujian to celebrate the holidays, but found the hotel costs in popular cities in Fujian to be quite steep. Therefore, he posted a request to swap homes for the holiday on a social media platform, and soon received an overwhelming number of private messages from netizens in southern China. He said, “I didn’t expect so many people interested in swapping homes. I have already arranged to swap homes with someone in Matsu Island, Fujian during the Chinese New Year.”
“Mainly, I need to ensure smooth check-in and that the other party will take care of my home,” Hou Yunhao, who is engaging in home swapping for the first time this year, said. He has only conversed twice with the other party, “As for whether we can successfully complete the home swap trip, I am willing to take the risk.” Hou Yunhao listed items in his home worth over 5000 yuan, including a piano and DVDs, and has not yet considered other factors like security.
Yang Rong, a resident of Guangzhou, had already experienced home swapping during the 2024 National Day holiday when she exchanged homes with someone in Xinjiang. She noted that this method is much more convenient than booking a hotel. This year, before the Chinese New Year, she is once again looking for a suitable city to swap homes with.
Mrs. Zhang from Beijing said, “Seeing others exchange homes and having a good experience on social media, I too had the idea to try it out.” With the intention to travel out of town for the New Year while her house sits empty, she expressed, “Mutual benefit, no harm done.”
According to reports from Da Gong Bao, Mr. Han from Dalian planned to take his family to Harbin to experience the charm of the ice and snow during the New Year. However, after discovering the high hotel prices near the tourist attractions, he was somewhat discouraged. Accidentally stumbling upon the fresh travel format of home swapping online, he began searching for a home swapping partner. “I’m easy-going, but my wife is meticulous. When I mentioned the idea of home swapping to her, she initially disagreed. However, considering the significant cost savings, she also wanted to give it a try.”
During the New Year period, hotel prices have skyrocketed, often costing hundreds to thousands of yuan. With swapping homes being seen as a way to gain financially, the internet and home swapping communities are flooded with such requests. Analysis by journalists from Semi-Monthly Talk revealed that popular travel destinations are the focus of home swapping.
Jing Fang, a professor at Harbin Institute of Technology, commented that “swapping homes for the New Year” not only saves a significant amount on accommodation expenses but also allows individuals to experience the culture and charm of different cities. As current university students increasingly seek cost-effective solutions, as long as both parties abide by the agreement, they are willing to give it a try.
The topic tagged as “young people increasingly opt for home swaps for the New Year” has sparked lively discussions online.
Some expressed concerns, saying, “If you have no money, you can choose not to go out. I am not willing to let strangers stay in my home. My house is my personal space.” Another comment read, “Our houses represent our personal space. Who would casually let a stranger stay in their house? Isn’t that a violation of privacy?”
Internet writer and influential microblogger “Fragrant Flowers Handsome” pointed out, “While the trend of young people swapping homes for the New Year may seem innovative and cost-effective, it also presents numerous hidden risks. For instance, in the case of Hou Yunhao, although he succeeded in ‘betting’, the lack of effective supervision and legal protection poses significant risks. With the credit system in China still imperfect, such actions carry substantial risks. Should issues like property damage, missing items, or even privacy breaches due to hidden cameras arise, determining liabilities and resolving disputes could prove challenging.”
In response, Liang Libo, a lawyer from Bank of China (Zhengzhou) Law Firm, noted that there are no specific regulations in place regarding “home swapping for the New Year” from the authorities, leaving the rights and interests of both parties without clear definitions within the legal framework. The current home swapping agreements often lack detailed content, making it difficult to use them as legal basis to protect rights in case of disputes.
Xiang Hong, a lawyer from Sichuan Hengrong Law Firm, also emphasized that China’s credit system is incomplete, making it challenging to verify the authenticity of the information provided by both parties. In cases of property damage, missing belongings, or landlords subletting without consent, determining responsibilities and resolving compensation issues would be complex.