Although there are still three 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.

(CCTV.com February 6, 2005)