China News

China’s Sluggish Economy Casts a Shadow Over Lunar New Year Travel

Empty malls and trains during the holiday period reflect the country’s economic strains.
China’s Sluggish Economy Casts a Shadow Over Lunar New Year Travel
A woman checks her phone as people return to their hometowns for the Chinese Lunar New Year reunions at a train station in Beijing on Jan. 20, 2025. Adek Berry/AFP via Getty Images
&
Olivia Li
|Updated:
0:00

As China prepares for the Lunar New Year on Wednesday, millions will travel home to celebrate the biggest holiday with family. The authorities estimate that the Chinese will make nine billion trips during a 40-day holiday travel period starting on Jan. 14.

Much like the Christmas season in the West, the Chinese New Year is a time for holiday travels, shopping, and gifting. However, after two years of economic slowdown, the Chinese increasingly feel the restraint of their wallets.

Kane Zhang is a reporter based in Japan. She has written on health topics for The Epoch Times since 2022, mainly focusing on Integrative Medicine. She also reports on current affairs related Japan and China.