Ruan Xiangyan, a 59-year-old doctor in Beijing, has not sat down for a Chinese New Year reunion dinner with her family for many years. Ruan is the director of the Department of Gynecological Endocrinology at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University. Each year, she remains on duty at the hospital so her colleagues can go home to their families.
On every Chinese New Year’s Eve, families gather for one of the most important meals of the year. Sometimes called the “reunion dinner,” the meal is what many love most about the holiday. It usually features their families’ best recipes, as well as many laughs, toasts and a warm, festive atmosphere.
“My husband and.
