Spring Festival is on the way. The music played in the shops and shopping malls are all full of the jubilant melody, and all the shopping places are holding plenty of sales promotions to catch the annual opportunity. Of course, the streets are also dressed festively with thousands of red lanterns. Last evening, I also got two tasks from my dad: to buy some red decorations like red lanterns or Chinese knot and to search some happy music matching to Spring Festival. Haw-haw, they are pieces of cake, aren’t they? Welcome 2011, wish everyone a great 2011!

The streets are all decorated with bright red lanterns.

The winter jasmine in the greenbelts also gives us a big smile, marking the approaching of spring.

Having heard of Huangyao Ancient Town for years, however, I have never been to there. Huangyao Ancient Town is located in northeast Zhaoping County, Hezhou City, about 160 kilometers from Guilin City, having a long history more that 900 years. The old banyan trees, the historic stone bridge with quiet blue-green stream flowing under, the lanes paved with bluestones and the ancient houses built in the Ming (1368–1644) and the Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, all had attracted me for a long time. Last week, my dream to the ancient town came true.

Together with some of my friends, I arrived at the town at about 10:00 am. It seems that the weather knew I came there to have a quiet hiking, the fine drizzling rain made the town much more peaceful. Walking in the lanes and touching the stamp of history on the walls, which made me to be really peaceful deep inside and to think a lot about my limited life.

It is said that the layout of those more than 300 houses in the ancient town is based on the theory of a famous array (九宫八卦阵) created by Zhuge Liang, a person of great wisdom and resourcefulness in the Three Kingdoms (220–280). Hence, it is very easy to get lost when walking in the town without a guide. But I did not. I have nice sense of delectation, don’t I?

The chili sauce sold in the ancient is said to be very nice. It is true that the sauce really smells good. I brought some, and the result, that, my families love it very much, proved the saying is true.

Getting to the caves only involves a short bus ride from the center of Luoyang. The buses end up at the entrance but you have to walkabout 400 meters to the ticket office. We take the 53 but there areother and often within minutes. Buses return repeated the way sono problems from it.
From the bus stop is far away the river YU and walking to the rightby a park and parking, you get to the bridge where the ticket office.From there, travel along the walkways no surprise stops. TheFujian temple is sensational.
The trip by the opposite side is not enhanced, at least after doingthe main route, so does the Garden Bai. Admission is 100 yuanface even though the sign says 120 And, but worth it.

There are several open-air markets in my city, Guilin. There is one not far away from my house. I sometimes go there to buy daily necessities. Today, I went there for new year shopping.

It is a typical street market, which only opens at weekend. The market occupies one half of a walkway, and runs around 0.5 kilometers long. There are hundreds of stalls in the market. It sells a great variety of products, including birds, fish, clothes, shoes, hats, baby strollers and other daily necessities.

The market is often very crowded. Most people who go there for shopping are from low-income families as products sold in the market are generally much cheaper. The quality is naturally low. But there are exceptions, you many find a good-quality product at a very low price sometimes.

As Spring Festival (Chinese Lunar New Year) is coming, the market is filled with a festival atmosphere. New year decoration items are sold here and there and new year songs are played in stores by the market.

Chinese New year decoration items: red lanterns,door gods, new year paintings, Chinese knots, new year mascot.

Chinese Lantern is widely used in New Year decoration not only because of its artistic embellishment but because that it is believed to be a auspicious symbol.

Red is considered lucky color in Chinese. Chinese people usually wear red clothes during the new year festival. That;s why clothes sold at this stall are mainly red in color.

Chinese people love to eat, and they almost eat everything. Snacks sold at the market.

Temple fair is one of the most important celebration activities during the Spring Festival. This traditional cultural event integrates religious worship and entertainment, and features almost all kinds of Chinese folk art.

The Chinese New Year 2011 will take place in February 3. Temple fairs in Beijing are to open to visitors. These temple fairs are usually held from the first day to the seventh day of the first lunar month, from February 3 to February 9 this year. Admission ticket price vary from10 yuan to 30 yuan. See below some famous temple fairs

Grand View Garden (Daguanyuan ) Temple Fair

The 16^th Honglou Beijing Temple Fair in Grand View Garden (Daguanyuan) evolves around the theme of Dreams in Red Mansion, a great Chinese classic novel. It vigorously promotes the development of regional holiday economy. The fair begins on Feb. 2 to 7, 2011 ( 30^th of the 12^th month of the year of tiger to fifth of the first month in the next year, i.e., the year of rabbit in Chinese calendar).

Ticket Price: 30 yuan RMB each person

Bus Routes: you can take one of the following buses: 122, 458, 474, 53, 59, 63, 717, 800 neiwaihuan, 939, Yuntong 102, T3 route.

Shijingshan Amusement Park Temple Fair

The fair features with foreign scenery, foreign music, foreign foods, foreign amusement activities. There are exotic float parade from five continents and 70 items of world top class performances. Meanwhile, 2010 people from around the world are invited to attend the fair, and wedding ceremonies for foreigners are held. Chinese can experience exotic scenery, customs and foods without going abroad; foreigners can feel at home in Beijing. The fair will accept the 3 millionth guest and offer this guest big prize.

Time: 9:00-17:00 Feb. 3-9, 2011

Venue: No.25, Shijingshan Road

Ticket Price: 10 yuan RMB each person

Bus Routes: Please take Route 1 subway to Bajiao Youleyuan stop or take one of the following buses: 337, 389, 620, 621, 622, 354, 385, 327, 728, 958, 959, 921, 503, 965 and 747.

Longqingxia the 25^th Ice Lantern Festival

Time: Jan. 16 to Feb. 28, 2011

Venue: Guchenghekou, northwest of Gucheng village which is located 10 kilometers northeast of Yanqing county city, Beijing Municipality.

The venue of this year's Ice Lantern Art Festival consists of one ice lantern contest area and four exhibit areas: colored lanterns area, snow sculptures area, ice lanterns area and international ice lanterns area. Each area has its own distinct characteristics. Colored Lanterns area is like a sea of lanterns: big lanterns with changing lights, awe-inspiring golden tiger, dragon pillar, the fairy Chang'e, cartoon figures loved by kids: the Happy Sheep (xiyangyang) and the Grey Wolf (huitailang), the race between the bonny and the turtle, the majestic and splendid Italian pillar, the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac, the big palace lantern, etc. Altogether there are more than 80 groups of colored lanterns.

Architecture ice lanterns include the mock building complex along the central axis of Beijing city, the masterpieces of Chinese ancient buildings, Chang'an castle and Wanxiang Holy Palace, etc. In Longqingxia Ice Lantern Art Festival, there are altogether over 300 ice lanterns and snow sculptures on display which are almost 100 more than last year's festival.

See more information on Chinese New Year 2011 celebrations