At 5:30 a.m., Wang Hui stood amidst the bustle of Shenzhen North Railway Station. With her family by her side, she awaited the first high-speed train bound for Xi'an City, departing at 6:08 a.m. Despite having built a life in the sprawling metropolis of Shenzhen, Wang's heart always pulled her back to her hometown during the Spring Festival.
\"I've been in Shenzhen since university, and now I have my own family here,\" Wang shared, her eyes reflecting both fatigue and excitement. \"But every year, as the Spring Festival approaches, I can't help but feel the pull of home.\"
Similarly, Ms. Zhong, another traveler heading to Chenzhou in central China's Hunan Province, echoed Wang's sentiments. Having lived in Shenzhen for over a decade, the city's rapid growth hadn't diminished her nostalgia for home during this special time.
\"I've planned this trip for a month,\" Zhong said, clutching her ticket tightly. \"The Spring Festival is when you want to be with family and embrace the traditions that connect us.\"
This year, China's Spring Festival travel rush is anticipated to reach record-breaking numbers, as millions journey across the country to reunite with loved ones. High-speed trains, like the one Wang and Zhong are boarding, have revolutionized travel, making distant hometowns more accessible than ever before.
The surge in travel not only highlights the importance of family and tradition in Chinese culture but also showcases the nation's advancements in transportation infrastructure.
As dawn broke, the station buzzed with activity. Children clutched stuffed toys, elderly parents leaned on canes, and workers hurried with luggage, all united by a common destination: home.
\"No matter how far we've come or how big the city we live in, home is where the heart is,\" Wang mused as she boarded the train. \"The Spring Festival reminds us of that.\"
Reference(s):
China's Spring Festival: Record-breaking travel, cultural feast
cgtn.com
