There have been many changes in the way Chinese people spend their Spring Festival holiday in recent years, and not every change has been welcomed by all. But a notable change this year is indisputably praiseworthy, and the change is apt to become the norm, said a commentary in Beijing News.

Discipline inspection commissions, arms of the country's anti-graft watchdog, made unannounced inspections of fancy hotels and other venues where guests, officials in particular, are often entertained using public money. As a collateral benefit, many of those who used to be tied up with running official receptions and activities during the Spring Festival holiday could join their families and visit relatives and friends. There have also been media reports about the fewer official receptions and activities, and publicly-funded gift giving in province's such as South China's Hainan province and Central China's Henan province.

These regional situations do not necessarily reflect the nationwide situation, but to a certain extent they demonstrate the great efforts China has made so far to curb the extravagance of officials and possibly herald a less ostentatious officialdom.