 | Spring Festival 2000: Tourists, an unidentified child and father, observe a big portrait of Mao Tse-tung, founder of the People's Republic of China, Thursday Feb. 3, 2000 in Shanghai. People in Shanghai are preparing to welcome the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year which begins on Feb. 5. This is the "Year of Dragon" or the 4698th year based on the Chinese lunar calendar. (AP) click to open  |
 | Spring Festival 2000: A boy peers through red strips of Chinese good luck sayings for sale in an empty lot where his home once stood before the September 21 earthquake, Wednesday, February 2, 2000, in the central Taiwan city of Tungshih. People in the heavily damaged areas of central Taiwan are finding it hard to get in the festive spirit of the Chinese New Year which falls on Feb. 5 especially those who have lost loved ones and property during the quake. The September 21 quake killed 2, 400 people and left thousands homeless. click to open |
 | Spring Festival 2000: A boy hangs Chinese New Year decorations for sale Wednesday, February 2, 2000, in the central Taiwan city of Taichung, at the site where his home once stood before it was destroyed in last fall's earthquake. Since a powerful earthquake ripped open central Taiwan four months ago, people have struggled to get into the holiday spirit. Some are still mourning family and friends who were among the 2,400 dead. Many have moved away or are saving money for new homes while they live in cramped temporary dwellings. click to open |
 | Spring Festival 2000: Lion dancers perform under the decorative gate at Beijing's Temple of the Earth during the opening ceremony of the annual fair Thursday Feb. 3, 2000. Temples across Beijing are opening fairs this week for Spring Festival, the annual holiday which marks the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year. The Year of the Dragon begins Saturday. (AP) click to open |
 | Spring Festival 2000: A dragon dancer waits her turn to go on as drum dancers perform at the opening ceremony of the Dongyue Temple fair in Beijing Thursday Feb. 3, 2000. The fair opened two days before the beginning of Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon. Temples across Beijing will hold fairs during Spring Festival, the annual holiday which marks the beginning Lunar New Year. (AP) click to open |
 | Spring Festival 2000: Chinese Embassy Minister-Counselor Yu Shuning meets reporters at the embassy in Washington Monday Jan. 31, 2000 to discuss U.S.-China relations. The sign behind the minister-counselor means "Spring Festival" and relates to the Chinese New Year. click to open |
 | Spring Festival 2000: Chinese girls perform a fan dance at a Beijing community center in preparations for Chinese New Year Monday January 31, 2000. Chinese Lunar New Year starts Feb. 5 which according to the Chinese calendar will be the year of the dragon. (AP) click to open |
 | Spring Festival 2000 in China: A Chinese worker prepare fish-shaped lanterns Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000 in Shanghai. People in Shanghai get ready to welcome the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, which begins on Feb. 5. This is the "Year of Dragon" or the 4,698th year based on the Chinese lunar calendar. (AP) click to open |
 | Spring Festival 2000: Chinese girls perform a fan dance at a Beijing community center in preparations for Chinese New Year Monday January 31, 2000. Chinese Lunar New Year starts Feb. 5 which according to the Chinese calendar will be the year of the dragon. click to open |
 | Life in Beijing: A young boy waits beside a computer while his parents buy train tickets at Beijing Railway Station Friday January 28, 2000. Millions of Chinese are heading to their hometowns, many carrying gifts, to be with their families for Chinese New Year, which begins February 5. click to open |
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