 | 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: 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 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: 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 |
 | Spring Festival 1999: Chinese performers hold axes in a recreation of a Qing Dynasty sacrificial ceremony at Beijing's Temple of the Earth Sunday, February 14, 1999. The Temple was once the site of real ceremonies in which China's emperor sacrificed animals to the gods of the earth to ensure a good harvest in the new year. The recreation was part of activities on the first day of an annual fair held to celebrate the coming of the Lunar New Year, on February 16. click to open |
 | Spring Festival 1999: A boy blocks his ears as performers crash their cymbals during a performance outside Beijing's White Cloud Temple on Chinese New Year's Day, Tuesday, February 16, 1999. Thousands flocked to the temple, the largest Taoist temple in the city, to celebrate Spring Festival, the annual holiday that marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. click to open |
 | Spring Festival 1999: Chinese pray and burn incense at Beijing's White Cloud Temple on Chinese New Year's Day Tuesday February 16, 1999. Thousands flocked to the temple, the largest Taoist temple in the city, to celebrate the Spring Festival, the annual holiday that marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, and to pray for prosperity in the new year. click to open |
 | Spring Festival 1999: People check their tickets to see if they have won one of dozens of cars, or many household products on offer at a lottery outside a Beijing temple fair Wednesday February 17, 1999. Lotteries are being held across the city as part of celebrations of the Spring Festival, the annual holiday which marks the arrival of Chinese New Year. click to open |
p6