Customers walk inside a shopping mall decorated with lanterns for the upcoming Lunar New Year in Shanghai February 16, 2007. Chinese around the world are preparing to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Pig on February 18.

A customer walks inside a shopping mall decorated with lanterns for the upcoming Lunar New Year in Shanghai February 16, 2007. Chinese around the world are preparing to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Pig on February 18.

A staff member jumps down from a ladder in front of a wall of lanterns at a park on the outskirts of Beijing February 16, 2007. Chinese around the world are preparing to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Pig on February 18. .

A staff member uses lotus-shaped candles to form the Chinese character for "Good Fortune" at a temple on the outskirts of Beijing February 16, 2007. Chinese around the world are preparing to welcome the Lunar New Year on February 18.

Local residents walk along along an aisle decorated with red lanterns for the upcoming Lunar New Year in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, February 16, 2007. Chinese around the world are preparing to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Pig on February 18.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2007)