Discover China

On Thursday people across China celebrated the Lantern Festival. Falling on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year, the festival takes place under a full moon and marks the end of Chinese new year festivities. Find out more in the CNTV News item China celebrates Lantern Festival.

Events are being held across China to mark the fifth day of the Lunar New Year – or “Po Wu” as it’s known in Chinese. A big part of ” Po Wu” is getting up early to clean houses and also to eat dumplings. To find out more see the CNTV news item Events held across China to mark “Po Wu”.

Happy Chinese New Year, or “Gong Xi Fa Cai” in Mandarin and “Gong Hey Fat Choy” in Cantonese! The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, is a very important traditional festival. It begins on 3 Feb this year and marks the start of the Year of the Rabbit. Learn more in the China Daily Special Feature 2011 Spring Festival.

The 23rd day of the year’s last lunar month marks a traditional Chinese holiday called Xiao Nian, which means Preliminary Eve, the prelude to the Lunar New Year’s Eve celebration. Find out more in the CNTV story China celebrates Xiao Nian festival.

Once again I have the privilege of  experiencing Lunar New Year and the Chinese Spring festival in China, this time in Shenzhen. The New Year was welcomed last night with the annual New Year Gala which has a massive nation-wide audience. You can watch video from the spectacular gala on the CCTV website.

Shenzhen saw a spectacular fireworks display at midnight, and city streets, shops and buildings are adorned with lanterns and other New Year decorations (as shown at left).