Staycations a rising trend among young workers seeking sanctuary from the pressures of daily life.

Almost every month, Wu Yutao, an employee at an internet company in Shanghai, carves out one or two weekends to stay in a hotel, stepping away from his hectic work to indulge in a brief, yet revitalizing solo journey.

"Sipping a drink and unwinding in a quiet space is a buffer from the frenetic pace of weekdays," said the 32-year-old.

This is not his choice alone. In today's fast-paced society, many young people are choosing to spend their weekends alone or with close friends in a hotel to relieve stress and find themselves.

When you enter keywords such as "staying in a hotel alone on weekends" or "staycation at a hotel" on Xiaohongshu, a social media platform also known as RedNote, millions of posts pop up, and as of March 24, there are more than 1 million related to "relaxing at a hotel on weekends".

Under the social media nickname of Yi Ting, the 23-year-old college student from Guangzhou, Guangdong province, has posted text and pictures on Xiaohongshu documenting her hotel staycation experience one weekend in March.

"I was really exhausted today. I urgently needed some time alone, so I checked into a hotel by myself," she wrote in a post on March 14. "For dinner, I ordered takeout for myself: two servings of boiled beef, stir-fired cabbage, and sweet fermented glutinous rice balls. Enjoying the food in the hotel room made me feel so happy and forget all about today's troubles."

On weekdays, the native of Jiangsu province lives in a school dormitory with her classmates, but she told China Daily that when she feels tired and stressed on campus, she heads to a hotel to unwind.

Finding oneself

Yi Ting has had many hotel staycations.

"I'm a person who needs space to be with myself, and a hotel meets those needs," she said, adding that the chain hotel close to the school, which has newly renovated facilities, is generally her first choice.

After checking in, she watches television dramas, reads novels, or studies in the small, but cozy room rather than using facilities like the gym.

"For me, a tranquil and introspective environment where I can rest and find myself is a must," she said.

Yi emphasized that she gets along well with her classmates. "Whether I am happy or sad, I cannot find a space that completely belongs to me at school where I can freely express my emotions, so I choose a hotel for weekends," she explained.

Another Xiaohongshu user based in Shanghai and named Yuzi Yeye also shared a similar experience and opinions in her vlog. In it, she recorded the entire process of de-stressing at a hotel one weekend in March.

After finishing work on Friday, she grabbed her bags and took a taxi straight to a local hotel. She picked a room with a nice view on a higher floor, brewed herself some green tea, and ordered Shanghai cuisine for dinner.

"As soon as I stepped into the room and lay on the bed, I just didn't feel like getting up," she said in the vlog. "I even wore comfy casual clothes to work that Friday, so they could double as pajamas when I got to the hotel."

After lying down for a bit she got up to take a shower and dozed off while watching TV dramas in bed. The next morning, she had the hotel's buffet breakfast and deliberately picked a seat for herself alone to relish the meal, and then repeated what she had done the previous day.

Short getaway

Wu, the employee of an internet company in Shanghai, said he likes to consider his staycations short getaways, or brief respites from the chaos of work and his cramped rented apartment.

"When I step into my apartment, all I see is a bed. There is hardly any room to move around," he sighed. "I opt for hotels on weekend because I need a personal space to escape from work pressure and anxiety, where I can enjoy services like a massage, a bar, and fitness."

He recounted the events of March 17, one of his most grueling workdays, to China Daily. That day, he attended two online meetings and one in-person seminar, during which he had to collaborate with colleagues, address client inquiries and make crucial decisions.

"I had to maintain peak concentration the entire time, not just communicate effectively, but also respond to everyone's concerns," he said, concluding that he ended up working 11 hours that day, with about four or five hours speaking.

"What made it even more draining was that I couldn't help but absorb the negative emotions of the clients during our interactions," he said, adding that such days are all too common.

"Talking so much isn't just physically exhausting, it actually leaves me feeling frustrated and weary. I'm constantly dealing with dissatisfaction and complaints, and it's really hard to stay positive," he said.

In such situations, heading to a hotel on weekends to unwind, perhaps with just a drink in hand, can be a much-needed escape. It allows Wu to change his environment and create a buffer against the stress and anxiety.

"By doing this, I can separate work from my personal life, forget about work pressures and rediscover myself in a fresh and relaxing setting," he added.

Way of life

For Zhang Binyang, 35, a Shanghai native who works in the catering consulting industry in Shenzhen, Guangdong, spending weekends at hotels has become a way of life.

During his junior year as an exchange student in the United States, he was first introduced to the "weekend hotel lifestyle" by his Turkish roommate. "It was like a key that unlocked a new door to my future work and life," he said.

After graduating, he chose not to settle in his hometown despite owning a home there. Instead, he began hopping between cities, partly because his job entails frequent business trips, but more importantly, out of his passion for exploring new places.

Consequently, he has stayed at many hotels in China and abroad. Even when he returns to Shanghai, he still prefers to spend weekends at a hotel.

"You could say that the hotel is my second home. What may seem like a nomadic lifestyle to others is the ultimate romance for me," he added.

In addition to relaxing, he enjoys exploring and discovering local history and culture. For instance, during some hotel stays, he has enjoyed delicious afternoon tea and toured exhibitions, while during others, he has stumbled upon hidden waterfalls and even museums.

"Discovering these details always excites me and keeps me curious about my next adventure," he said.

Additionally, the cleaning and laundry services provided by hotels spare him the household chores he dislikes doing. "I don't want to waste my precious weekend time dealing with trivial matters," he added.

Unlike those who use hotels as a refuge to unwind and avoid social interaction on weekends, Zhang said that he has forged several new and meaningful friendships through hotel activities.

For example, he has attended yoga and handicraft workshops at some hotels, and has also joined in movie screenings and hikes organized by hotels or homestays.

"These are all things I'm passionate about, so I've naturally met people with similar interests," he said.

"As I've grown older, it's not about the quantity of friends, but their compatibility," he said, adding that he strikes a balance between solitude and socializing during his hotel stays.

Besides making new friends, a number of people have also enjoyed happy family moments and learned new things while spending weekends in hotels. Last year, Sun Zhen traveled to Suzhou, Jiangsu province, and booked a hotel near the Suzhou Museum. When she checked in, she received a form listing more than 10 parent-child experience activities, according to Beijing News.

"I was so surprised by the variety of activities," she told the paper. "There were family-friendly items like evening runs, and the hotel restaurant specialized in Southeast Asian cuisine, with cooking classes dedicated to rare treats like colorful cakes and Thai salads."

The hotel offered many experiences that incorporated local culture, such as appreciating Suzhou Pingtan, a form of storytelling, and making Taohuawu woodblock paintings.

"Many of these projects were new experiences for me and my child, and we both really loved them," the paper quoted her as adding.

Media also shows that hotels integrating gaming have become popular places for players to gather and entertain themselves, especially since the boom of Black Myth: Wukong, a single-player video game.

Xu Liang, a hotel industry insider and gaming enthusiast, told the paper that when esports hotels first emerged about 10 years ago, the clientele was mainly college students. At the time, most of the hotels had been transformed from internet cafes, and their management, services and room prices were relatively disordered and low.

Thanks to strict inspection, esports hotels have improved.

"Some offer complete facilities and provide all-round services for guests, including laundry and latenight snacks," the paper quoted Xu as saying.

He added that the proportion of mid-to-high-end chain brands priced around 450 yuan ($62) per night is showing an upward trend.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn