 | Worshippers carrying umbrellas flocks to Longhua Temple to greet the Lunar New Year in Shanghai February 9, 2005. Tens of thousands of worshippers visited the ancient temple in China's business capital to welcome in the Year of the Rooster. click to open  |
 | Residents buy flowers to decorate their homes on the eve of the Lunar New Year in Shanghai February 8, 2005. Flowers and fruits are popular lunar new year decorations which symbolise new life and prosperity. China will usher the Lunar New click to open |
 | Shanghai shopping center decorated with monkey images to welcome the first day of Chinese New Year of Monkey, on Jan 22nd 2004. click to open |
 | The lunar New Year of the Monkey will on January 22 2004 and is celebrated world wide by the Chinese people. In today's more affluent and permissive China, market forces have transformed the week-long holiday into an affair as fit for commercialism as Christmas is in the West. The photo here shows Shanghai preparing for the new year with traditional lanterns. click to open |
 | Life in Shanghai: 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 |
 | Life in Shanghai: Visitors walk about under the canopy of hanging lanterns Thursday Feb. 17, 2000 at Yu Garden in Shanghai. Chinese will celebrate the Lantern Festival, marking the offcial first day of spring and ending of Spring Festival Feb 19. (AP) click to open |
 | Spring Festival 2000: A Chinese couple observe a giant dragon lantern Sunday Feb. 6, 2000 during the Lantern Festival at Zhongshan Park in Shanghai. People in Shanghai welcomed the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, which began on Feb. 5. click to open |
 | Spring Festival 2000: A performer leads a traditional dragon dance Saturday Feb. 5, 2000 at Yu Garden in Shanghai during the Lantern Festival to celebrate Chinese New Year. (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: 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 |
p3