At 5:30 a.m., the soft glow of lights illuminates Shenzhen North Railway Station as travelers prepare for journeys home ahead of the Spring Festival. Wang Hui, accompanied by her family, waits to board the first high-speed train departing at 6:08 a.m. to Xi'an City in northwest China.
Wang, a mother and permanent resident of south China's Shenzhen City, reflects on the draw of her hometown during this festive season. \"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 early hour.
Nearby, another traveler, Ms. Zhong, is set to return to her hometown in Chenzhou, central China's Hunan Province. Despite living in Shenzhen for more than a decade, the city's rapid growth hasn't diminished her 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 shares.
As Wang Hui and Ms. Zhong embark on their journeys, their stories embody the profound significance of family and tradition during the Spring Festival. For many residents of bustling cities like Shenzhen, this annual pilgrimage home remains an integral part of Chinese culture.
Reference(s):
China's Spring Festival: Record-breaking travel, cultural feast
cgtn.com