Migrants stay home to stay safe during holiday

Student group

When the friend replied that he knew quite a few people who were also staying in Beijing, it sparked an idea.

On Jan 24, Zeng posted a QR code on his social media account for a group chat called "BFSU students scattered across Beijing" with the aim of gathering as many "lonely" students as possible.

"We planned some outings during the holiday," he said. The group gained more than 30 members in a single day.

For young people like Zeng, Zhang Yuxi and Zhang Binhong not being able to celebrate the Chinese New Year in the traditional way didn't mean they abandoned all attempts to enjoy the festival.

Zhang Yuxi has made the seven-day holiday a "food journey" by staying in the kitchen and researching new recipes every day. On the Chinese New Year's Eve, she made a big dinner and invited several friends to join her.

Zhang Binhong and Zeng were invited to eat at friends' homes. The former said it was reasonable for the government to ask people not to travel during this difficult time.

"To put it frankly, not going home this year will ensure good New Years in the future. If the current situation continues, we may not have a good year every year. If it can be controlled and people are vaccinated, we can return home happily next year," he said.

In addition to white-collar workers like Zhang Binhong and Zhang Yuxi, many service industry employees also canceled their travel plans, meaning their lives did not change during the holiday.