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Travelling for Chinese New Year - 2nd February 2022

It's Chinese New Year! People in China are travelling to visit family. Last year, coronavirus stopped travel again. This is many people’s first time together in two years.

Shao: "Naturally we're a little worried, but we did some research and I know we're not in the mid-high risk area, so we really hope to be able to go home and be with our family."

People can travel to and from Shanghai. But other cities, like Xi'an, are in strict lockdown. Even shopping for food was difficult.

Chen's going to see her parents. But she says that the travel rules are very strict. She has to do lots of tests.

Chen: "24 hours before leaving Shanghai, I need to do a Covid test. After arriving home, I need to do a test within 24 hours. And there are new rules this year that 48 hours before coming back to Shanghai I need to do a test. Then after arriving in Shanghai, another test. Then, another test within 48 hours of returning to work. So, even though I'm going home for only five days, I need to do five Covid tests."

The Winter Olympics are in China this year too. The government’s being very careful. It doesn't want Covid-19 to stop the games.

But 85 percent of China's population is vaccinated. And there aren’t many people with Covid-19. Scientists in China would like to see fewer rules.

Chinese New Year is very important in China and Southeast Asia. Train stations will be crowded everywhere.