As lunar New Year fast approaches, millions of Chinese have started their
annual pilgrimage home. As the biggest movement of people on Earth, up to two
billion trips are expected to be made during the period January 14 to February
22 - more this year than ever before. Nothing can stop this large scale
"migration", even though ticket prices soar and compartments are full to
bursting point.
Across the country, on January 28, the lunar New Year's eve, families will
celebrate their reunion, gathering around tables eating, drinking, chatting,
playing Mahjong or watching the traditional New Year's Eve broadcast by China
Central Television.
Fang Xiwen, writer
Though home is far away in the UK, Fang has found himself caught up in the
country's frenzy of heading back to hometowns.
However, he's not going back to the UK, but instead to Jilin
in northeast China, to his girlfriend's hometown.
"Someone told me that if you go to spend the festival at a girl's home, it is
a clear signal that you are to marry, " he said with a pained smile.
Though he has yet to make up his mind, the strangely handsome Londoner is
choosing to take the risk, as he is looking forward to spending New Year with a
Chinese family.
"It will be good getting out of the noisy metropolis and spending a few days
in a small city near Jilin."
The dashing Fang is expecting to eat and drink a lot in his time away, as
relatives descend to check him out. Including some children he has been warned
are a bit of a handful.
"If they wake me up in the morning I'll only put 1 yuan
in their hongbao," he said, with a scrooge like smile.
