‘Hotel gap days’: China youth seek weekend alone time splurging on hotel stay to eat, sleep, relax and escape everyday pressures
- Name derives from long-established concept of gap year when students take year-long break after finishing secondary school or before or after university
- Hotel stay ‘gap days’ are just one stress-relief option being embraced, with the spiritual temple and ‘military’ budget holidays also popular
China’s young adults are using short breaks on weekends to escape from their busy lives in a new trend called “gap days”, mostly spent at a hotel.
The name derives from the long-established concept of a gap year when students take a year-long break after finishing secondary school or before or after university to travel, volunteer and experience life outside the rigid hierarchy of full-time study and work.
Proponents of the idea believe that hotel stays give them personal space to disconnect from social and familial obligations and alleviate work stress.
However, for many young Chinese, work demands, financial pressures, family commitments, and parenthood can make pursuing a gap year impossible.
KK, a media professional in her 20s, is typical of those seeking greater freedom in their day-to-day life after finishing her schooling and starting her career immediately. For personal reasons, she had to move back to her hometown after graduation two years ago and has been living with her parents, reported Life Lab.
Her job in the media requires her to be constantly engaged in communication and chasing leads, which leaves few boundaries between work and personal life, often leaving her feeling drained.
Even when she gets home, she still has to deal with additional parental “disciplines”.
“My parents have many rules — beds must be neatly folded and put away, rooms must be spotless, and any water droplets on the glass must be wiped off after a shower; these little detailed demands place further pressure on me,” KK told Life Lab.
She discovered hotel stay gap days by accident during the pandemic when she often had to stay overnight in hotels; experiencing a new type of freedom. Now when she needs more space and privacy she just tells her parents she has to stay at a hotel for work, when she is actually spending her weekends in hotels as an escape.
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KK describes herself when staying in a hotel as a “wild horse off its reins”, ignoring unmade beds, splashing water in the shower where she pleases and leaving takeaway containers out.
The stress relief and escapism of hotel gap days have resonated with many young Chinese who have taken to social media to share their experiences and tips for the best deals.
One online commenter said: “I thought I was the only one who liked doing this! When work pressure gets intense, I book a hotel room near my home, spend time alone, watch shows, order fast food, drink bubble tea, and then quickly fall asleep once I’m full.
“When I wake up on Monday and put on make-up for work, I feel like I’m back to being a human being again.”
A hotel stay “gap days” is just one of the stress-relief activities young Chinese have embraced, with a number of options depending on the traveller’s needs.
Holiday lying down
This is a holiday with no specific itinerary or fixed destination.
They “lie down” wherever they go, or in other words, simply “changing places to sleep,” in pursuit of complete relaxation and freedom.
Temple visit
Buddhist and Taoist temples have also emerged as favoured destinations for those seeking a temporary spiritual escape from work pressures and career burnout in search of inner peace.
Some even stay as volunteers for months, assisting with daily tasks while receiving spiritual and emotional support.
Military-style travel
Due to demanding work schedules, limited holidays, and tight budgets, many young people struggle to afford immersive travel experiences.
As a result, they meticulously plan their budgets and itineraries with military-style precision, cramming as many tourist sights in as they can during their trips within a tight budget.
