To my old friends and the strangers who may be seeing this:
I would like to send you a postcard from China to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year.
As the calendar turns and the air in China grows crisp with the scent of winter and the anticipation of festivities, my mind drifts back to the people I’ve met on my travels.
Whether we shared a meal through Couchsurfing, a conversation in a crowded hostel, or just a brief moment in time, those connections are what make the world feel a little smaller and a lot warmer.
Next month marks the start of the Lunar New Year, and I want to celebrate it by reviving the “old school” way of staying in touch.
You might have heard it called the Spring Festival (春节 – Chūnjié). For us, it’s not just a change of the calendar.
Our traditional calendar is actually Lunisolar. In locals hearts, we use the sun to keep time, but we look to the moon to mark life’s most soulful moments–—from choosing a wedding date to celebrating the New Year.
During this time, the world’s largest human migration happens as everyone travels home for a massive family reunion dinner. A visit to China this month reveals a world painted in red. From lanterns to Red Envelopes (红包 – Hóngbāo), this color dominates the season.
This year is even special because we are entering the Year of the Horse.
In Chinese culture, the Horse represents energy, independence, and racing toward success. There’s a popular idiom, “Mǎ Dào Chéng Gōng” (马到成功), which literally means “Success arrives with the horse.” It’s the perfect energy for travelers and adventurers like us!
So here’s the plan:
I’m mailing these from my current base in Hangzhou, China. It’s a city near by Shanghai, where ancient pagodas stand alongside a high-tech skyline,
I’ll be picking out photos that capture this unique vibe—a little piece of Chinese to brighten your mailbox.
How to Get One? 🧧
I would love to bridge the distance between us. If you’d like to receive a handwritten note from China:
- Drop me a message/Send me a email with your full mailing address.
- Include your Instagram handle if we aren’t connected there yet!
My plan:
When I head to the post office to drop these off, I’ll be sharing the journey on my IG. I’ll make sure to tag you in a post or story so you can look out for your mail and know that a little piece of Hangzhou is officially on its way to you.
Let’s welcome the New Year by celebrating friendship, no matter how far apart we are. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Happy 2026 Chinese New Year! 🐎