Home-swapping holidays surge among China retirees to travel affordably, foster connections

South China Morning Post3 November 2026, 10:00 UTCPeople's Republic of China

A growing number of Chinese retirees are embracing home-swapping holidays, exchanging keys with strangers to travel on a budget and expand their social circles. The concept dates back to European teachers in the 1950s and gained global popularity through the 2006 film The Holiday. In China, it emerged among young people in 2023 amid soaring hotel prices. During China’s National Day holiday in October, average per-person travel spending reportedly fell to about 894 yuan (US$135) per trip, a...

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