I live in a Hometown.  

It sucks during "holidays"

yes, I already have a nephew here in my home (10days out of Hong Kong)...his bed at home is being used..I have  a spare. actually comfortable (cushioned) room for 8 more, whana come over and party?  ...joking

My wife has family in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, many but not all are expected here this month. My mother-in-law and other elderly folks look forward to seeing their offsprings and collecting the hongbao they so righteously deserve. It is pay day!

I live in a migrant city, most people will go back to their hometown in early or mid February for CNY, I will enjoy the silence and the almost empty city with still most of everything open and running as usual (but with minimum staff) during the holidays except some mom and pop shops and restaurants.

I don't hang around on the streets much. Even the great Chunjie holiday seems to be celebrated quite soberly. There are lots of lunches and relatives we haven't seen for a while. But I see granma in the countryside maybe 3 times in a year; I see nephews and other relatives that work in cities once a year without fail. Not much difference.

Perhaps it depends on the poverty level of the hometown inquestion. Hongya county is relatively wealthy, in between 2 holy mountains of Buddhism and the largest buddha statue in the world. Not everyone needs to work in the city; there are jobs and oppoprtunities here.