Li Zhenjie, an advertising company employee in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said he felt relieved on Sunday to have made travel arrangements to reach his home in Zhoukou, Henan province, by car-pooling.

Li got to know a car owner, Gu Wubin, in Guangzhou, through an online forum of people from Henan. Gu is returning to Zhengzhou, Henan, for the Spring Festival holiday.

After the car-pooling campaign's organizer, Beijing Jinliufu Wine, which has sponsored the event for the third year, conducted identity checks on the driver and passenger, Li signed a contract on Sunday with Gu.