Food from afar triggers memories of home

So instead of family reunions, much of the love will come on wheels. Food packages delivered from home will have to do when it comes to filling the void and renewing relationships and fond memories.

Chat threads about food deliveries from home are popular on social media platforms. People who cannot go home to be with family share photos of the hometown treats they have received, along with feelings of homesickness.

Of the foodstuffs received from family members, preserved meat and pickles rank first on the list, according to a social media survey on Sina Weibo. Noodles and dumplings rank second, followed by fruits, sauces and local specialties.

A native of Jiangsu province, Song Dan, 23, will spend New Year alone for the first time in Yantai, Shandong province, 625 kilometers from home.