The Spring Festival atmosphere is building in Taiwan. Preparations are underway for the lantern festival, and restaurants are offering special festival menus. Let's get a feel of the New Year build up on the island.

A "Good Luck Rabbit" lantern will be the centerpiece of Taipei's 2011 Lantern Festival.

It was created by Hong Fuxin, a seasoned paper sculptor, with over thirty years' experience behind him.

Hong's craftsmanship has won widespread recognition, ever since he made his first Zodiac lantern 18 years ago.

Meanwhile, some of Taiwan's restaurants are offering mini versions of popular set meals. From hamburgers, to beef noodles, to deserts, all the food is in miniature.

Despite the tiny portions, it actually takes the chefs more time and effort to cook these dishes.

And the target customer for such mini-specials? Taiwan's female customers, seeking to watch their weight.

Cured meat, or bacon, is a festival staple in many southern regions of China, such as Yunnan province.

With Taiwan a current hot destination for Chinese mainland tourists, some restaurants on the island are making their own cured meat, to draw in visitors.

This restaurant in Nantou city specializes in Yunnan-style cured meat. The pork is first salted, and then cured outside for at least two months.

The restaurant owner hopes such authentic dishes will help alleviate mainland tourists' homesickness, during their trip.

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