Editor's note: During the Chinese New Year, many PKU students relished the booming festivities in the loving comfort of their families at home.  

Chinese New Year, more widely known as the Spring Festival in China, is a season of reunion and bonding. As one of the biggest celebrations of the year, people all around China participate in the festivities, with twists of their own. From all over the country, PKU students borrow ink and pixels to share the New Year festivities of their beloved hometowns. 


Qingdao

Xu Yifeng, School of Electronics and Computer Science

In addition to bustling marketplaces and red couplets around every corner, Qingdao welcomes a special bunch of guests every winter—a flock of seagulls migrating from Siberia. Visiting the seaside to play with seagulls has become as a new local custom during Spring Festival.

In 1994, Qingdao took the lead in launching a movement called "Retain Seagulls". Over the past 20 years, the number of seagulls coming to Qingdao for winter has increased significantly in light of the people's efforts. The seagulls that return every winter seem to echo the promise of reunion, between us and our family, our hometown. 






Harbin

Li Chang, School of Basic Medical Sciences

As one of the northernmost cities in China, Harbin's winters are long and cold, the temperature often reaching below -20°C. In the pouring snow and chilling weather, even the snowmen out on the plaza have put on their scarves. 

As a city famous for its unique ice and snow culture, people always eat ice-sugar gourds and put on thick clothes to play in the snow during Spring Festival. In this icy winter wonderland, the warmth of family is what makes the Spring Festival special. 







Swatow

Huang Erhan, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences

Swatow is home to many overseas Chinese who moved back to China after living abroad in the last century. Swatow's migration culture has shaped its unique architectural style, as embodied in its famous Arcade Buildings, which is an amalgamation of architecture from Chaoshan in China, and Southeast Asia. As the Spring Festival nears, this beautiful coastal city welcomes tourists from all over the world.️





Hangzhou

Ye Renhao, School of Government

West Lake is one of the most iconic landmarks in Hangzhou, known for its stunning scenery. The WE1314 bus will take you past a road named “Solitary Hill”, to a lake tinted orange in the warm sunlight. 

Sitting in the evening breeze, listening to the sounds of birds, guitars, and people exchanging blessings for the new year, while waiting for the sun to set—it might not sound like much, but perhaps it is the simple pleasure of getting a day off to watch the sun set upon the West Lake that is greatest delight of the Spring Festival.







Shanghai

Zhu Chengxuan, School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science

Spring Festival in Shanghai is rather unlike other places. Contrary to most places, this busy, crowded city becomes less lively during the New Year, since most of the people working in Shanghai travel home during the Spring Festival. 

Even though the streets seem a little quiet, the festivities in Shanghai are no less spirited. Whether it's gathering a bunch of friends for a game of mahjong, or writing couplets with family, in Shanghai, the reunion is the main theme of the Spring Festival.




What is Spring Festival like in your hometown? Wherever you may be, PKU wishes you a Spring Festival of joy, love and company. As per traditional Chinese New Year wishes, may you and your family be in good health, happiness, luck and prosperity in the year to come. 



Written by:Guo Yasong, Chan Ziqing
Edited by: Chan Zi Qing, Hu Shaocong
Designed by: Leong Chinro