Although there are still several days until the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, a festive air has already swept across China. People around the country are holding various traditional celebrations under local conventions.

In this village of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, celebrating the Spring Festival with dragon dances is an old tradition.

Accompanying by the beating of drums, people carry the dragon all through the crops field and the village, hoping for a good harvest next year.

In central China, villagers are buying holiday goods at special markets, organized before and during the Spring Festival holiday. People living nearby go to the markets, all wearing their holiday best.

In east China's Jinagsu Province, the provincial capital city of Nanjing will be lit with thousands of colorful lanterns for three weeks, beginning this Sunday. Being made of paper, wire and bamboo, the lanterns have many patterns resembling animals and flowers.

It is a tradition for Chinese people to hang lanterns in front of their houses or in the streets during the Spring Festival holiday season. They believe that will bring good fortunes in the New Year.

In Hong Kong, which has been considered as an international city, the Lunar New Year still maintains an important festival for most Hong Kong citizens.

Walking along downtown streets, one can see the traditional Chinese red lanterns hanging high in big shopping centers and gardens to add the festival atmosphere.

As a local tradition, peach blossom trees are "planted" at the Times Square, International Financial Center (IFC) and many other shopping centers as well as city squares and gardens.

Young people, especially young women, are spotted holding bundles of peach blossom branches here and there just days before the Lunar New Year starting from Feb. 9.

Peach blossom is believed here to bless for good luck in every aspect, especially for good luck in encountering with a happy match.

Flowers and mini-orange trees (also indicating good luck) have been one of the major decorations for households during the Lunar New year.

Though red ants have been found in the city, the flower markets in Mong Kok and Victoria Park have not been affected much as Hong Kong departments concerned have been strengthening the quarantine work and anti-insects procedures for local and imported flowers.

With the improvement of local economy, less buyers would bargain during their purchasing of flowers and prices for some kinds of flowers have hiked because of the cold weather.

Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival for family reunion. Having family gathering at restaurants during the important holidays has also been a tradition here.

According to Hong Kong catering sector, the orders for festival dinners recorded 10 percent to 20 percent up from last year's same period, reaching the peak level in 1997. Hong Kong Catering Industry Association estimated that the turnover of Hong Kong catering sector during the Lunar New Year period would be 5 percent higher than last year's same period, reaching 6 billion HK dollars (US$769 million).

A peak season for weddings also appeared in Hong Kong. Many young couples in a rush to register their marriage before the Lunar New Year.

As registration for marriage in Hong Kong is required to reserve in advance, young couples line in queues waiting for marriage registration on the related official web-site. The registration quotas before Feb. 9, the beginning of the Lunar New Year, have already been fully occupied.

In the first 10 months last year, 32,000 couples got married, a record high figure in the same period in the past five years.

The latest ACNielsen Hong Kong Consumer Confidence Index indicated that the positive market sentiment in Hong Kong since 2004 not only maintained in the beginning of 2005 but also brought the confidence level to a score of 99, the highest in 10 years.

To add more festive atmosphere in the city, the Hong Kong Tourism Board will arrange the 2005 Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade on Feb. 9. A total of 12 floats along with 16 international and 13 local performing groups will participate in the event.

The Symphony of Lights show will be enhanced with rooftop pyrotechnics from Feb. 11 to 15 to celebrate the New Year.

Sponsored by the Tourism Board, the pyrotechnic displays will feature a wide range of colorful patterns to highlight the festive glamour.

The Bank of China Tower, Hopeful Center and Sun Hung Kai Center, will showcase their newly enhanced lighting effects to make the show even more spectacular.

Fire show has also been arranged in the evening of Feb. 10, the second day of the Lunar New Year.

(CCTV.com, Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2005)