Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

As the Chinese New Year holiday comes to a close,MK sports a large number of people across China are packing their suitcases and embarking on a journey filled with renewed ambitions. In the year 2025, I chose to drive back to Beijing after the holidays, which provided me with the chance to participate in the annual "trunk-filling competition" that took place at the end of the Spring Festival season and also deepen my understanding of the festival's core values of love, harmony, and familial bonds - the invaluable gifts Spring Festival offers to the world. 

The night before my departure, my parents and other elder family members were busy planning how to maximize the space in my car's trunk. They carefully selected and packed items they believed I would need or enjoy back in the city.

From homemade delicacies like meatballs and roasted pork prepared during the holiday to fresh vegetables and fruit from local farms, they loaded every inch of the trunk with love. They even included condiments they thought would be hard to find in Beijing. By the time they were done, the vehicle's trunk was packed to the brim.  

Driving along the highway, I could not help but notice similar scenes around me. Through the rear window of my car, I saw boxes, bags, and all kinds of packages stuffed into trunks and back seats of countless cars. Some vehicles even carried entire bedding sets or kitchenware.

On my return trip, almost every expressway service area was bustling with vehicles. As drivers opened their trunks, I was once again captivated by the array of colorful packages inside. One driver, surnamed Hao, who was heading back to Tianjin in North China said that his car was packed with various fresh vegetables planted or foods prepared by his family members, including celery, cabbage, spinach, sausages, sesame oil and steamed buns.

"It is not that I can't buy these vegetables in the city. But this is a reflection of the abundant love our family shares. That is why I felt the need to return home for a reunion during the Spring Festival," he explained.

Venturing into cyberspace, I discovered that many users across various social media platforms were also participating in the "trunk-filling" competition, and sharing photos of their "love-filled trunks." These trunks were primarily filled with local specialties, agricultural products, and homemade foods. While these items may not be particularly expensive, they embody a profound sense of love, care, and familial connections.  

One netizen commented, "No matter how large the trunk is, my parents can fill it up." The post has gained a lot of resonance.

The Chinese New Year is a time for reunion, harmony, and love. These values are deeply embedded in the traditions of the holidays and are reflected in the small details of family activities, Xiao Fang,  head of the Department of Anthropology and Folklore Studies at Beijing Normal University, noted.

At the core of the Spring Festival lies the spirit of reunion, and the packages in the trunk serve as an extension of the tender feelings and warmth that define this special time. 

Actually, the care between family members is mutual. Prior to my leaving for home, my car trunk was filled with several suitcases full of gifts such as health care products for my parents.

In a modern world where material wealth is increasingly abundant, the Spring Festival reminds us of the importance of emotional wealth. It is not the cost of the items in the trunk that matters, but the love and care behind them. This emphasis on family connection is what makes the Spring Festival so universal, even as it remains deeply rooted in Chinese culture.  

As China's most important holiday, the Spring Festival has evolved into a global cultural event, particularly after being inscribed to the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The values of harmony and peace fostered through family activities during the Spring Festival hold immense significance in today's world, according to Xiao.

The "love-filled trunk" is an example of how the Spring Festival embodies these universal values. It is a reminder that, no matter where we are, family and home are the sources of our greatest strength. The warmth we carry with us from these connections can help us face challenges, build bridges across differences, and create a more harmonious world.  

Driving back to Beijing with a trunk full of homemade foods and family essentials, I could not help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. The items packed so carefully by my parents were not just things - they were pieces of home, tokens of love, and sources of comfort for the year ahead.  

The Spring Festival is more than just a holiday; it is a reflection of the values that bind us together. From the reunion dinners to the packed trunks, every tradition carries with it a message of love, care, and connection. As I traveled along the highway, I realized that the warmth of home does not fade with the holiday - it travels with us, giving us strength and hope for the journey ahead.  

This is the true spirit of the Spring Festival: a celebration of love that transcends distance, a reminder of the ties that hold us together, and a source of inspiration for the world.