As the Spring Festival draws near, a large number of Chinese travelers bearing traditional festive specialties are journeying home to reunite with their families to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
So far, a 40-day-long Spring Festival travel rush, also known as "Chunyun", has already unfolded in China. It is a period of high transportation demand coinciding with the country's largest annual holiday, the Spring Festival, which falls on Jan 29 this year.
This year's Spring Festival travel rush runs from Jan. 14 to Feb. 22.
Red couplets, lion dances, and heartfelt wishes fill the atmosphere at Chengdudong Railway Station, one of the busiest stations in southwestern province of Sichuan, where the festive spirit is electric. Amid the bustling scene, travelers carry bags of all sizes -- some even larger than themselves.
"I brought some nuts. These are almonds. I just returned from Xinjiang," said a traveler.
Regional specialty foods remain a favorite for travelers sharing the taste of different areas with their families. But younger generations are increasingly opting for unique regional souvenirs. Chengdu, for instance, is famous for its panda culture.
"Snacks and panda-themed accessories," said another traveler.
Meanwhile, the station is fully prepared to accommodate the influx of eager travelers and their multitude of luggage.
"We've added more security checkpoints to reduce wait times for passengers entering the station," said Wu Xuemengyuan, a staffer at Chengdudong Railway Station.
Millions of travelers in China flock home for Spring Festival bearing reunion gifts
The Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 began preview screenings in London on Friday ahead of its official release in the country and Ireland on March 21, attracting excited crowds to watch the film in advance.
The film made its debut in the UK at London's BFI IMAX, home to the country's largest IMAX screen and is scheduled to screen in over 250 cinemas of 100 cities across the UK and Ireland during the first week of release.
The film's Europe-wide distributor, Trinity CineAsia, announced that it has acquired theatrical distribution rights for Ne Zha 2 across 37 countries in Europe, including the UK, Ireland, and Germany. This scale of film release is exceptionally rare in the history of overseas distribution for Chinese-language films, reflecting the strong confidence of local cinemas in the movie's market potential.
"The fact that it is here and, you know, that we are getting a lot more influx of films from all across Asia from China, South Korea, Japan, South Asia as well. I think it's really good to kind of like widen the palate, because we all want to escape our little cinematic bubble and see what the rest of the world has to offer," said Jack Martin, a film reviewer, in an interview with the China Central Television (CCTV).
"Ne Zha 2" has shattered global box office records to become the No. 1 box office animated film of all times and also the first non-Hollywood production to crack the global all-time top 10 box office chart.
Rooted in 16th-century Chinese mythology with a bold reinterpretation, the movie has attracted attention of global audiences with its stunning visuals, well-crafted storytelling, and deep cultural heritage.
"And I think all these elements show that Ne Zha 2 is both a film that's modern, but also has its roots in something very deep and very ancient," said Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia, in an interview with the CCTV.
Many audiences attending the preview screening in London have shared their thoughts about the movie in interviews with the CCTV.
"It was moving like heartwarming. Yes, I'll go home now and talk to it to all my friends," said a moviegoer.
"I thought that the humor of the film was really great, but it balances so perfectly with some of the more dramatic and heartfelt moments of it. And yeah, I really, really enjoyed it. And the language barrier was not a problem at all," said another moviegoer.
"We might not speak the same language, but at its heart is a very universal theme of friendship and just trying to do right in the world. And I think that a lot of people really resonate with that. I can see why it's done so well in China already," said Jack Martin.
James Smith, an social media influencer, shared his views about the movie in Chinese language during the interview. He thought the movie can serve as a bridge for foreigners to understand Chinese culture.
"I watched Ne Zha, the 2019 box office hit, in China. When I heard that its sequel was set to debut in the UK today, I rushed to the cinema to see it. It's definitely a great movie, filled with humor, touching moments, and encouragement. My friends often ask me how they can better understand China, because they think I know something about the country. I would say that you can watch the Ne Zha 2, as I believe it's a great film and through which you can learn something about Chinese culture," he said.
Ne Zha 2 begins preview screenings in London, captivating local audiences
