In China, Lunar New Year, which begins on Saturday, is a time of intense travel and the only time of year many can make it home. For those living abroad, making a trip can be impossible, whether because of finances or time. And many people, less traditional than their parents, forgo the traditional homegoing altogether. Wherever the holiday is celebrated, hot pot offers a chance for loved ones and chosen family alike to gather close over the same steaming bowl, lowering ingredients into the communal broth for all to grab, and assembling servings for one another. (Hot pot is a staple of Chinese home cooking, a dinner shared among family members, with variations all over Asia.)

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Locations: China, Asia