Editor's note: Hu Tianxiong, 33, who works at in a financial company in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, shares his story of carpooling with China Daily reporter Cao Yin.

I left my hometown, Wuhan, in Central China's Hubei province, and worked in Shenzhen for about nine years. At first, I seldom returned home after I arrived in the bustling city because of the long distance and high-priced air tickets.

But in recent years, I've gone home almost every Spring Festival because I really missed and worried about my parents. They are old and need to be cared for. In the meantime, I bought a car.

I previously had to spend more than 1,200 yuan ($193) for a one-way trip by car - 700 yuan for gas and 500 yuan for highway tolls - which was not cost-effective.

So having experienced car sharing several times in Shenzhen, this year I decided to try it again to go back home, which is far from my workplace, more than 1,200 kilometers.

Car sharing can reduce the cost, and I can also drive to visit relatives when I get back home.

I published my information - my name, route and contact data - on a carpooling website in January. I sought traveling companions who were clean and non-smokers, and I preferred those who could share the driving for the long trip.

I set out a week before the festival with two people. After negotiations, they each paid me 200 yuan in traveling expenses.

Car sharing helped me a lot, and I made friends on the way. What I was most concerned about was safety. After all, I have to take responsibility for myself and my car mates, so I paid more attention and checked my car before traveling.