'Emotional spending' a touch of holiday luxury

Wang Jing, 39, is taking a weeklong family vacation in Sanya, in southern Hainan province, starting on Feb 15 and lasting nine days.

Wang, who lives in Beijing, said that sightseeing is not the main reason for the trip, but rather relaxation, as both she and her husband need time to unwind after working hard all year.

"The trip will be like a reward for our hard work, so we've booked a premium hotel, which costs nearly 3,000 yuan per night, but we're willing to pay for the good environment and emotional value," she said. Her husband has also booked a premium dinner package for Chinese New Year's Eve, costing 2,888 yuan for the family of three.

Wang said they usually keep their travel budget at around 5,000 yuan per person for weeklong domestic trips, but want to splurge on a fancy, high-quality experience this Spring Festival holiday.

Qi Chunguang, vice-president of travel portal Tuniu, said that taking a trip is self-rewarding, and the scenery, food, and a comfortable hotel can help people completely relax.

"People's spending habits have changed with the improvement of living standards, and the long duration of this year's Spring Festival holiday has stimulated people's willingness to take a long trip with their families," he said, adding that this allows them to experience the joy of family reunions and the emotional value derived from the trip.