Homeward Bound: Families Reunite as China’s Spring Festival Travel Surge Begins

At 5:30 a.m., the atmosphere at Shenzhen North Railway Station is a mix of anticipation and warmth as travelers gather to begin their journeys home for the Spring Festival. Wang Hui, a mother and permanent resident of south China's Shenzhen City, waits with her family to board the first high-speed train to northwest China's Xi'an City, departing at 6:08 a.m.

\"I've been in Shenzhen since university, and now I have my own family,\" Wang shared, smiling despite the early hour and long journey ahead. \"But every year, as the Spring Festival approaches, I can't help but feel the pull of home.\"

Similarly, Ms. Zhong, another traveler, is heading back to her hometown in Chenzhou, central China's Hunan Province. She has lived in Shenzhen for more than a decade, but the city's rapid growth has never lessened her feelings of homesickness during the Spring Festival.

\"I've planned this trip for a month,\" Zhong said. \"The Spring Festival is when you want to be with family and embrace the traditions that connect us.\"

For many residents like Wang and Zhong, the Spring Festival is a cherished time to reunite with loved ones and honor long-standing traditions. Despite building lives in bustling metropolises like Shenzhen, the call of their hometowns remains strong.

As dawn breaks, the departure boards light up with destinations spanning across China, reflecting the shared journey of countless individuals yearning for home during this special time of year.