
This Spring Festival, Travelers Are Swiping Right — On Each Other’s Homes
A record 9 billion trips are expected this Spring Festival, and travel costs are soaring to match. Budget hotels have tripled their rates, flights are packed, and finding a good deal feels impossible. To sidestep the steep prices, some travelers are turning to house swaps — trading their own homes for a temporary stay somewhere new.
“With hotel prices soaring several times over for the Spring Festival, I’d rather find a suitable swap to cut costs,” says Yan Xi, a 32-year-old financial professional in Beijing. “I’m looking at southern cities where flights are affordable and there’s plenty to explore.”
Yan plans to swap her apartment with another solo traveler, using a third-party platform to vet options. She prioritizes destinations that interest her, seamless scheduling, and clear communication before sealing the deal. To minimize risk, she sticks to exchanges with single women, prepays a deposit, and checks the property via video call before committing. “It’s a new experience, but as long as both sides are upfront, I’m not too worried,” she says.
This year’s Spring Festival lasts eight days—one day longer than usual—giving travelers more time to venture further. As prices surge, more young people are turning to “house swapping for the New Year,” listing their homes on social platforms to trade stays. Beyond saving money, many see it as a way to experience a new city like a local.
Travel demand is at an all-time high this Spring Festival, with a record 9 billion trips expected over the 40-day holiday period. Flight bookings have surged since December, with economy seats on popular routes selling at full price.
Domestic airfares are up from last year, and hotel prices have skyrocketed — some budget stays now cost over three times their usual rate. With costs climbing, travelers are increasingly turning to alternatives like house swapping to keep their holiday plans affordable.
While house swapping for the Chinese New Year first gained traction on the lifestyle app Xiaohongshu last year, what began as a niche trend has since grown into a structured market.
One platform capitalizing on this shift is Love Sharing House Swapping, launched last July. The service functions like a matchmaking hub for travelers, allowing users to browse listings and contact potential swap partners. Once both sides agree, they submit an application, pay a deposit, and sign a three-party agreement before exchanging homes. After their stay, they settle utility fees, and if no damages occur, the deposit is refunded.
To address safety concerns, the platform mandates identity verification, property certificates, and facial recognition. It also offers insurance coverage. Its founder surnamed Liu attributes the growing popularity of house swapping to shifting attitudes toward homeownership and the rise of budget-conscious travel. “This trend is likely to see further growth in the coming years,” he tells Sixth Tone.
“In China, houses have long been seen as appreciating assets, while abroad, they are primarily for living,” Liu says. “But as housing investment slows, more people are open to using their homes in new ways, like house swapping.”
Another platform, House Swapping Travel, caters to users with vacant homes during off-peak seasons or empty rooms left behind by students and traveling workers.
To facilitate exchanges, the platform uses a virtual currency system called “House Swapping Beans.” Users earn Beans by listing their properties with detailed descriptions of local culture, regional specialties, and nearby attractions. These credits can then be used to offset accommodation costs when booking other homes.
As house swapping gains traction in China, legal experts warn of potential risks. Xu Qianyu, a lawyer at Shanghai-based Bridge Law Firm, points to concerns like property damage, security, and privacy breaches, including hidden cameras. She advises participants to sign a formal contract outlining identities, responsibilities, and breach clauses. Clear terms on dispute resolution and legal jurisdiction, she says, can help ensure a smooth exchange and protect both parties.
For 42-year-old Chen Mo, a full-time mother in the southern megacity of Shenzhen, house swapping started as a way to make use of her vacant seaside home in Huizhou, and to give her children new experiences.
Last summer, she attempted to arrange a swap through Xiaohongshu, even forming a group chat with 60 like-minded users, but plans fell through due to her children’s tutoring classes. This Spring Festival, she finally made it happen, exchanging homes with a guest from Liupanshui, in the southwestern Guizhou province. While they spend the holiday in her Huizhou home, she plans to visit their city with her kids this summer.
To ensure a smooth exchange, Chen prefers vacant homes and vets potential swaps through social platforms. For added security, she signed a simple agreement with her Liupanshui guest and requested a 2,000-yuan deposit.
Compared to staying at a hotel, Chen believes house swapping allows for better experiences. “A month in a hotel would cost thousands, but a swap makes use of empty homes and makes family travel easier,” she says. She enjoys the flexibility: cooking her own meals, shopping at local markets, and immersing herself in daily life.
Editor: Apurva.
(Header image: Visuals from VCG, reedited by Sixth Tone)