A selfless Spring Festival: four ordinary people who gave up their holidays

For the vast majority of Chinese people, Chinese New Year — celebrated according to the moon's annual cycle — is a time of togetherness, family, food and memory making. 

Otherwise known as the Spring Festival, this is the most important time of year for the 1.38 billion people who call the world's most populous nation home. But there are some who need to stay at work, doing their part to keep this vast country ticking over. 

For them, Chinese New Year won't be spent with family and loved ones, and it won't be a time to sit around and watch the New Year's Gala before basking under midnight fireworks. 

But it will still be unforgettable, and a time of pride — someone's got to do it.

As China welcomed in the Year of the Pig, Shanghai Daily followed four ordinary yet special people — a chef, a midwife, a Customs officer and a taxi driver — who gave up that special time memories are made, so that others can make theirs.