A recent survey by China Youth Daily showed that 93 percent of the respondents will send their Spring Festival greetings and wishes virtually instead of paying visits or gathering.

Falling on Feb. 12 this year, the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, is a traditional holiday featuring family reunions that usually sees mass migration. However, people are advised to stay put and avoid non-essential gatherings in the forthcoming holiday over COVID-19 concerns.

Among the 2,013 respondents, nearly 82 percent prefer to send holiday greetings by means such as video calls, phone calls and messages in consideration of health and safety, and 65 percent of them consider it a convenient choice.

Though not able to meet their families and friends in person, over 84 percent of the respondents hold that such New Year greetings can also enhance family bonds and friendship as face-to-face ones do.

A total of 74 percent of those polled say that this will not spoil their holiday cheer, while 86 percent of them believe such an innovative way will make this Spring Festival even more special.