就地过年：此心安处是吾乡 Ushering in the new year: This year, home is where we areThe grandeur of the Spring Festival is unparalleled. Every year, the traditional festival marks the joy of homecoming. Migrants in cities flock home to get together with their families for long-awaited reunions and to wish each other the beginning of a new year. This year, the pandemic has put a dampener on celebrations as tens of thousands of people have chosen to stay put this Spring Festival and would be spending the holidays away from the warmth of home and families. During the Spring Festival, commuting used to become a harrowing experience for many with waiting rooms overcrowded as people jostled to make their way home. This year, however, a drop in passenger flow is expected. Sporadic cases are still appearing in some parts of China. Many provinces and cities across the country are encouraging people to stay where they are, asking them to celebrate the Chinese new year locally. Local governments and enterprises have also launched a series of thoughtful and pragmatic measures, boosting the chances that people will travel less and spend a safe new year locally. Lanzhou, Gansu Province is providing shelter for those living in poverty who can't return home for the time being; Beijing has launched the Year of the Ox exhibition to give the holidays a cultural shot in the arm; Yiwu, which sells small commodities and has stores in dozens of countries and regions, is encouraging people to celebrate the new year without travel by offering cash, red envelopes, housing subsidies, free tickets for scenic spots and a bilingual service hotline to connect with international friends……The thoughtful and affordable giveaways are meant to highlight the spiritual depth and cultural temperament of cities. The Spring Festival is a soulful experience for the Chinese people. Many old and new customs, such as pasting Spring Festival couplets, cutting window flowers, making dumplings, new year Eve’s dinner, lucky money, watching the Spring Festival Gala etc emphasize happiness, peace and family reunion. And this year, people choose to connect over cloud. There were "cloud" dinners, "cloud" new year celebrations and "cloud" red envelopes. While there may be no guests sitting at a table full of delicacies this year, the new year is likely to bring good tidings. Meanwhile, we can enjoy the festival with some simple homemade dishes. The pandemic blocks the way home, but all remain confident in defeating the virus. In this special year, we must pay our tributes to unsung heroes — the workers who are sticking to the forefront positions to help us battle the pandemic. Volunteers at the grassroots level in the communities are the first line of defense to contain the pandemic; food delivery boys galloping on the road are the vanguard to protect the lives of residents; doctors, nurses, soldiers are helping us survive the crisis. Every person on duty during the Spring Festival is part of the backbone of the city. There is no peace for granted. It's just that some carry the heavy burden for you and give up their own families. Home is the direction, the strength, and the warmth deep in everone’s heart. This year, we should bring the warmth of home wherever we are.