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 | Spring Festival 2000: Groups of Chinese pray in celebration of Chinese New Year at a temple fair in Beijing Saturday Febuary 5, 2000. This year is particularly special for Chinese, many of whom identify themselves with the dragon, calling themselves the "dragon's descendants." In ancient times, emperors regarded themselves as reincarnations of dragons, and children born during the year are considered blessed. click to open  |  | Spring Festival 2000: People watch a lion dance performed at Yokohama's China town near Tokyo, celebrating the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000. This year is the Year of the Golden Dragon, according to the Chinese calendar. (AP) click to open |  | Spring Festival 2000: Buddhists hold candles as they pray to welcome the Chinese New Year Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000, at the Longhua Temple in Shanghai. This year, the Year of the Dragon, is particularly special for Chinese, many of whom identify themselves with the dragon, calling themselves the ``dragon's descendants.'' In ancient times, emperors regarded themselves as reincarnations of dragons, and children born during the year are considered blessed. (AP) click to open |  | Spring Festival 2000: Dragon dancers wait their turn to perform during the opening ceremony of the Dragon Lake park fair in Beijing on the eve of Chinese New Year Friday, February 4, 2000. The fair was one of many which opened Friday as part of celebrations of the arrival of the Year of the Dragon, which begins Saturday. (AP) click to open |  | Spring Festival 2000: Drum dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the Dragon Lake park fair in Beijing on the eve of Chinese New Year Friday February 4, 2000. The fair was one of many which opened Friday as part of celebrations of the arrival of the Year of the Dragon, which begins Saturday. (AP) click to open |  | Spring Festival 2000: Members of the Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Association perform a traditional Dragon Dance during the annual Chinese New Year parade in downtown Hong Kong Saturday, Feb. 5, 2000. The parade is organized by the Hong Kong Tourist Association to usher in the Year of Dragon. Fifteen floats and 42 performing groups participated in the massive New Year celebration. (AP) click to open |  | Spring Festival 2000: A young dancer adjusts her headwear as she participates in a dragon dance at the rehearsal of the Chinese New Year parade Friday Feb 4th 2000. A total of 15 floats, 13 international and 30 local performing groups will join on Saturday in Hong Kong to celebrate the arrival of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon. (Reuters) click to open |  | Spring Festival 2000: Worshipers at the Hsingtien Temple squeeze through crowds with their prayers and candles on the first day of the Chinese New Year, Saturday, February 5, 2000, in Taipei. The Hsingtien Temple in Taipei is dedicated to Kuangkung, the god of war and martial arts and is the patron saint of business people. (AP) click to open |  | Spring Festival 2000: Crowds of worshipers at the Hsingtien Temple squeeze through incense smoke and each other with their prayers and offerings on the first day of the Chinese New Year Saturday, February 5, 2000, in Taipei. The Hsingtien Temple in Taipei is dedicated to Kuangkung, the god of war and martial arts and is the patron saint of business people. (AP) click to open |  | Spring Festival 2000: A volunteer of the Hsingtien Temple distributes incense sticks to crowds of worshipers coming with their prayers and offerings on the first day of the Chinese New Year, Saturday, February 5, 2000, in Taipei. The Hsingtien Temple in Taipei is dedicated to Kuangkung, the god of war and martial arts and is the patron saint of business people. (AP) click to open |
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