At 5:30 a.m., Wang Hui and her family stand amidst a bustling crowd at Shenzhen North Railway Station, eagerly awaiting the first high-speed train to Xi'an City, which departs at 6:08 a.m. Despite the early hour, the station is alive with anticipation, reflecting the record-breaking travel of this year's Spring Festival.
Wang, a mother and permanent resident in Shenzhen, south China's bustling metropolis, has built her life there since university. Yet, as the Spring Festival approaches each year, the call of her hometown becomes irresistible.
\"I've been in Shenzhen since university, and now I have my own family, but every year, as the Spring Festival approaches, I can't help but feel the pull of home,\" she said, her smile conveying a mix of nostalgia and excitement.
Another traveler, Ms. Zhong, is also making her journey back home to Chenzhou in central China's Hunan Province. Having lived in Shenzhen for more than a decade, she acknowledges that the city's rapid growth hasn't lessened her homesickness during the Spring Festival.
\"I've planned this trip for a month,\" Zhong shared. \"The Spring Festival is when you want to be with family and embrace the traditions that connect us.\"
This year's Spring Festival travel rush has seen unprecedented numbers, with people like Wang and Zhong embodying the timeless tradition of returning home to reunite with loved ones and celebrate the cultural feast that is the Spring Festival.
Reference(s):
China's Spring Festival: Record-breaking travel, cultural feast
cgtn.com
