For young, rich globetrotters, vacations are me-time

Young travellers are seeking out luxurious, bespoke, adventurous experiences when they plan holidays

Yuwei Zhangzou represents a new type of Chinese tourist.

Last month, the Shanghai-based fashion influencer had close encounters with reindeer, visited Santa's village and stayed in a glass-enclosed treehouse during a trip that she organised herself to Finland. Very little shopping was involved. "I was hoping to get lucky and see the Northern Lights and I got it! I was happy," she said.

As Chinese travellers gear up for the Lunar New Year holiday, which this year runs from 10-17 February, more of the people who can afford to travel abroad are eschewing the group tours and shop-tilyou-drop holidays that were popular before the pandemic and opting for more adventurous, experience-based trips like Zhangzou's, industry experts say.