Chen Qian, from Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, so enjoyed the regular bedtime chats with her roommates at university that she has revived the ritual five years later.

Cheng said that after graduation, she stayed in Wuhan while her three roommates went to work in Shanghai and Guangdong province.

Now the four women have got together again through their mobile phones and special software that allows them to chat at night in their homes just like they did in their university dormitory.

Two of the women have married, but the husbands also enjoy the chats.

(Changjiang Daily)