For the rest of the year (until late September 2008) Beijing will be in Olympic Fever. Here, though, is when the capital gets a bit more traditional. Take a look at the capital in Spring Festival Fever — all around the city…
Out on Chang’an Avenue — Beijing is definitely in Spring Festival mode. On those big, new buildings hang big lanterns and the Chinese words —
Happy New Year.
A bit of a more Christmassy twist — here at the Minzu Hotel. It looks like a Christmas tree with
Chunjie characteristics!
Probably one of the nicest photos around — a string of lanterns.
Very neat.
The
nianhuo market at Fengzeyuan, just south of Chang’an Avenue. Time to get your “Spring Festival goods”… never forget the fireworks!
Streets are in a very festive mood — South Xinhua Street is, in particular, in a lantern-ish mood. The very best of
Lao Beijing!
Lanterns are everywhere — even on county highways out there in Shunyi District!
Houhai is probably the best place for a few Spring Festival photoshots. There are lanterns just about everywhere. A very festive mood for one of the more traditional parts of this international metropolis.
Oh, the tradition — the ever-so-Beijing tradition!
Duilian, lanterns, everything red… fitting for the capital of China!
Lanterns are just about everywhere — these are near the Dongdan crossing.
Finally, even the road info panels are in the festive mood — telling people where they can set off fireworks. (Details to follow.) Oh yeah — it also reminds you that drunk setting-off of fireworks (lethargic language) is just as bad as — drunk driving!
If you’re around in the capital, and are within the 5th Ring Road, you can blow up just about anything legal for the whole day on February 6 and February 7, 2008. Fireworks and firecrackers are also yours to light at will from 7 AM through to midnight from February 8, 2008 through to February 21, 2008. After that — it’s no more. You’ll have to wait until 2009.
David Feng, by the way, is staying put in Beijing. Updates will pour in throughout the week as usual. But as it’s the time to get in a festive mood, so — Happy Spring Festival!
