Tourists visit Xiangyang ancient town in Xiangyang City, central China's Hubei province, Feb 3, 2022 to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year. (YANG DONG / XINHUA)

XI'AN – Before the Spring Festival, people across China were in an upbeat mood preparing for the arrival of the Lunar New Year, as targeted COVID-19 control measures were in place to prevent the spread of the virus. 

The Spring Festival is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It falls on Feb 1 this year. Regarded as the most important holiday for Chinese people, it is all about family reunions and relaxation. 

This year's Spring Festival was celebrated as sporadic COVID-19 cases have been occurring in multiple places across China. 

ALSO READ: China's railways handle over 90m holiday passenger trips

To clear the way back home for hundreds of millions of holiday travelers, China's National Health Commission (NHC) has urged targeted COVID-19 response measures for people traveling home ahead of the holiday. 

A girl poses for a photo at a park in Shanghai, east China, on Feb 3, 2022.  (ZHANG JIANSONG / XINHUA)

Local authorities should not take a simplistic approach to COVID-19 containment by applying a one-size-fits-all policy, nor should they add excessive restrictions, according to the NHC. 

This year's Spring Festival travel rush began on Jan 17 and will last until Feb 25. To avoid the spread of COVID-19, free testing locations have been set up in hospitals and railway stations across the country to facilitate nucleic acid testing for travelers. 

The Third Hospital of Changsha in central China's Hunan province began providing a 24-hour nucleic acid testing service on Jan 19. 

ALSO READ: Rail schedule augmented for Spring Festival rush

"I have been too busy with my work these days and will return to my hometown in Gansu province tomorrow," said Zhang Miao, 28, when taking a test at the hospital on the eve of the Lunar New Year. "Thanks to the 24-hour service, I am able to get my test result in time." 

Tourists visit Chuxiu Park in Huai'an City, east China's Jiangsu province, Feb 3, 2022, as they celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year. (ZHAO QIRUI / XINHUA)

In Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province, daily life has returned to normal since the city cleared all high and medium-risk areas for COVID-19 transmission on Jan 24. Tailored measures have also been adopted for people shopping ahead of the Spring Festival. 

A manager at a local mall said that health code and temperature checks are required before entry. The mall has also placed a limit on visitor numbers and expanded the distances between tables in restaurants, and is disinfecting regularly. 

These targeted measures have created a safe atmosphere for people to enjoy the new year. 

An artist performs at a movie town in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan province, Feb 3, 2022. (DING YOUMING / XINHUA)

In Shuyuan Gate, an ancient cultural street in Xi'an, many citizens were buying Spring Festival couplets written by local calligraphers to greet the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Tiger. 

"We prefer to buy handwritten couplets with auspicious words as new year gifts. This year, we bought four pairs of couplets for our family, which carry our best wishes for the new year," said Song Hao, a Xi'an citizen.