Some people have been preparing for the Chinese New Year not just by buying new clothes or getting a new hairstyle, but, especially in the case of people in the city of Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, by displaying a great desire to travel abroad during the holiday, according to its Public Security Bureau Exit and Entry Administration.

Traditionally, the Chinese tended to spend the festival with their family but, in recent years, more families are saying that they would like to travel overseas with family members.

Or, as Mrs Zhang, a Baotou resident, explains it, "This year I'll spend the Spring Fesival with five family members in France to relax." Many other travelers seem to feel the way Zhang does and are choosing Europe, making it the hottest place. Coastal countries such as Japan and South Korea are also sought-after destinations for the Baotou people.

In the case of destinations closer to home, the hottest choices are Yunnan, Hainan and Jiangsu provinces.