South Korea was among the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists during the Spring Festival holiday. [Photo/Agencies]

More Chinese travel abroad than at home

It seems that Spring Festival is no longer a time solely for family reunions at home, as more Chinese choose to spend the holiday abroad.

The number of Chinese traveling abroad is expected to have exceeded 5 million during the Spring Festival holiday this year. The holiday also saw more Chinese travel abroad than travel home for the first time, with 60 percent of Chinese tourists opting for overseas destinations.

The stronger yuan, favorable visa policies, increased wealth and demand for quality leisure time were some of the drivers behind the new trend.

According to the China National Tourism Administration, the 10 most popular countries among Chinese tourists are: South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Italy and New Zealand.