At 5:30 a.m., Wang Hui waits with her family at Shenzhen North Railway Station to board the first high-speed train departing at 6:08 a.m. from south China's Shenzhen City to northwest China's Xi'an City. Despite the early hour, there's a palpable sense of excitement.
A mother and permanent resident in the metropolis, Wang Hui explains that despite building a life in Shenzhen, she always yearns for her hometown, especially during the Spring Festival. \"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 says, smiling despite the long journey ahead.
Another traveler, surnamed Zhong, is heading back to her hometown in Chenzhou, central China's Hunan Province. Having lived in Shenzhen for more than a decade, she shares that the city's rapid growth has never lessened her feelings of homesickness during the Spring Festival. \"I've planned this trip for a month. The Spring Festival is when you want to be with family and embrace the traditions that connect us,\" Zhong says.
For many residents like Wang and Zhong, the Spring Festival is a time to reconnect with family and uphold cherished traditions. The anticipation of reuniting with loved ones brings a unique warmth that transcends the distance and the early morning wake-up calls.
Reference(s):
China's Spring Festival: Record-breaking travel, cultural feast
cgtn.com
