Greater China Spring Festival 2019: Year of the Pig News and Images

[TaiShang]

Giant snow sculpture welcomes Year of the Pig in Harbin

Updated : 2018-12-21

By ( chinadaily.com.cn )

A snow sculpture of a pig is pictured at the 31th Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Northeast China's Harbin on Dec 17, 2018. The 12-meter-tall and 22-meter-long structure ushers in an auspicious 2019, the coming Year of the Pig in lunar Chinese calendar. [Photo/Xinhua]

People work on finishing a giant pig sculpture at the 31th Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Northeast China's Harbin on Dec 12, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

People work on snow sculptures in Northeast China's Harbin on Dec 14, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

A snow sculpture of a pig is pictured at the 31th Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Northeast China's Harbin on Dec 17, 2018. The 12-meter-tall and 22-meter-long structure ushers in an auspicious 2019, the coming Year of the Pig in lunar Chinese calendar. [Photo/Xinhua]

 

[Pakistansdefender]

We must send Molana fazul rehman there .

 

[TaiShang]

Craftsmen in Hebei busy making red lanterns as New Year approaches

(Xinhua) 09:22, December 24, 2018



A worker makes red lanterns in Tuntou Village, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 23, 2018. As the New Year approaches, lantern craftsmen in Gaocheng, which is known for its lantern manufacturing, are busy making red lanterns. (Xinhua/Duan Ranxingzhi)

http://en.people.cn/n3/2018/1224/c90000-9531267-8.html

 

[Place Of Space]

cute year, eat and sleep well from the date on.

 

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

Happy new year 2019

 

[TaiShang]

Review of ‘year of pig’ stamps issued outside China

(People's Daily Online) 09:41, December 26, 2018

On Dec. 23, Xi’an Evening News reviewed a series of themed stamps issued by countries outside China to celebrate the year of the pig according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

Year-of-pig stamp issued in South Korea

Early in 1970, South Korea took the lead in issuing such types of stamps. Korea Post issued a set of two stamps to welcome the year of the pig in 1971, with one featuring a seven-colored clay pig in a green background.

In 1971, a seven-yen stamp was designed by Japan in celebration of the Lunar New Year.

Year-of-pig stamp issued in Vietnam

Twenty three years later, the Philippines issued its first set of year-of-pig stamps, depicting a clay pig wearing a pink bowknot and a couple of cartoon pigs. Around the same period, North Korea and Vietnam also issued their first sets of pig-themed stamps that were full of local characteristics.

Year-of-pig stamp issued in the US

In addition to Asian countries, the US, France, Australia and some countries in Africa and Latin America also issued related special stamps, indicating the popularity of China’s zodiac culture overseas.

Year-of-pig stamp issued in France

China started to issue zodiac stamps from 1980. China Posts will issue the year-of-pig stamps in January to welcome the approaching lunar year starting from Feb. 5, 2019.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2018/1226/c90000-9532012.html

***

Of course, Spring Festival and Lunar New Year is not only about Greater China, but also about the larger Confucius Sphere such as Japan and South Korea.

 

[kuge]

strange that the feline is missing...

about the dragon, it seems illogical among the other 11 living animals...if it were not real.

some people propose it was actually a dinosaur..恐龙

 

[TaiShang]

More people to enjoy comfortable trips during this year’s Spring Festival travel rush: report

(People's Daily Online) 09:34, December 25, 2018

(People's Daily Online/Yu Kai)

As the transportation capacity of China’s railway systems has been further improved this year, more Chinese people will be able to enjoy comfortable trips back home during the approaching Spring Festival travel rush, according to a big data report issued by Chinese internet security firm Qihoo 360 on Dec. 20.

China Railway Corp recently released a data report stating that fixed asset investment in the railway sector totaled 732 billion yuan in 2018, expanding the country’s rail way mileage by 4,000 km, including 3,500 km of additional new high-speed tracks.

Facilitated by China’s enhanced rail way capacity, over half of the passengers can get home within 12 hours, and those who must spend more than 24 hours to return home by train only account for 11 percent.

Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission told the Beijing Morning Post that by 2020, bullet train services will cover 21 cities in the province. As a province well-known for massive amounts of passengers during the Spring Festival, see a huge relief in its traffic pressure will be seen during this period.

The report predicted that Guangdong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Zhejiang will still be the largest sources of outflow traffic during this year’s Spring Festival travel rush, with Hunan, Hubei, Heinan, and Sichuan provinces being the largest destinations.

It is noteworthy that Hangzhou, Zhejiang has witnessed a surge in the number of outflow passengers, indicating that it has risen as a new attraction for China’s floating population.

Over 90 percent of the hottest 10 routes during the travel rush will be in southern China, and emerging first-tier cities such as Chengdu, Wuhan and Chongqing have also become major transportation hubs, the report said.

The difficulty of acquiring a ticket for returning home during this period has always challenged the “returning army”. Qihoo 360 launched an online system for ticket booking based on cloud computing and its security techniques in order to alleviate the situation.

Users can pay in advance to acquire a ticket, and the system will offer full refunds should a given user fail to fully confirm the tickets. In addition, it will automatically allocate canceled or extra train tickets to the buyers by means of smart analysis techniques, said Wang Qian, chief designer of the cloud service.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2018/1225/c90000-9531626.html

 

[TaiShang]

Malaysians prepare for upcoming Chinese lunar New Year in Kuala Lumpur

(Xinhua) 09:18, January 04, 2019



A woman interacts with her child as lanterns are prepared in celebration of the upcoming Chinese lunar New Year in Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jan. 3, 2019. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung)


A tourist visits the Thean Hou Temple as lanterns are prepared in celebration of the upcoming Chinese lunar New Year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jan. 3, 2019. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung)


Workers prepare to hang lanterns in preparation of the celebration of Chinese lunar New Year in Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jan. 3, 2019. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung)

Workers prepare to hang lanterns in preparation of the celebration of Chinese lunar New Year in Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jan. 3, 2019. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung)

http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/0104/c90000-9534601-4.html

@Nan Yang , @powastick

 

[TaiShang]

With the Chinese New Year a month away, China Post issued a set of two special zodiac stamps on Saturday. Featuring the pig for the incoming zodiac sign, each stamp is 2.4 yuan. Famous Chinese artist Han Meilin designed the set of stamps. Han was born in Jinan, Shandong Province in 1936 and is most known for his "Fuwa" dolls made for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The set comes with two different designs – the pig on the first stamp is simple and charming. It shows its vitality by running, symbolizing the beautiful and good life; the other stamp perfectly embodies the concept of "family," with two big pigs and three little ones appearing at the same time, expressing the best wishes for the family reunion in the New Year. [Photo/VCG]









Customers buy special edition "Year of the Pig" zodiac stamps in Huainan, Anhui Province on Saturday, January 5, 2019. [Photo/VCG]

http://www.china.org.cn/photos/2019-01/06/content_74345403_5.htm

 

[TaiShang]

For first time ever, celebrate a special Spring Festival in Forbidden City

By Hong Yaobin
2019-01-06

Do you want to see how Chinese emperors spent the Spring Festival holiday in ancient times?

Here's a chance to walk into the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, and experience a special Chinese New Year in person as the Palace Museum is opening its first 2019 exhibition with a record-breaking number of exhibits that unveil how the imperial court of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and ancient royal families celebrated the Chinese lunar New Year.

The exhibition, "New Year Greetings – Celebrating Spring Festival in the Forbidden City", is held at the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, January 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

The striking event kicked off at the Forbidden City in Beijing on Sunday, the first day of the twelfth lunar month, a time when Chinese people traditionally start a series of celebrations and preparing for what they consider the most important festival of the year.

This exhibit is the first time the public have been able to enjoy and engage in the traditional celebrations of lunar New Year inside the royal palace.

Lanterns add festive aroma to the Forbidden City, January 5, 2019. /VCG Photo

Lately, an increasing number of Chinese people have been spending Spring Festival at museums, celebrating the lunar New Year in a different way, according to Shan Jixiang, curator of the Palace Museum.

The Chinese character "福," referring to good fortune and blessings, as written by five Qing emperors, were unfolded to the public.

On display are calligraphic works of the Chinese character "福” by five Qing emperors, January 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

There is also a rare opportunity to see Emperor Qianlong's handwriting in Spring Festival couplets that are on display in the Hall of Mental Cultivation as well.

The exhibition also features traditional instruments, which were employed to play imperial court music during festivals in the Qing Dynasty, as well as creative cultural products with a festive theme.

Picture pairs of guardian gods that are usually put up on the doors are also displayed at the exhibition, January 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

Aside from the grand exhibition unprecedentedly showcasing 885 pieces of royal antiques, the Palace Museum has used its largest area to restore the imperial celebration scenes of the Spring Festival.

The Forbidden City was decorated with festive decorations, offering an immersive entertainment experience for the visitors.

The event, presented in six sections, including "Auspicious Invocation", "Filial Sacrifice", "Imperial Kinship", and "Winter Recreation", comprehensively introduce the royal etiquette, historical celebrations, and festival culture.

Auspicious poetic couplets, January 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

Auspicious poetic couplets and picture pairs of guardian gods were put up on the doors and gates as a New Year tradition.

Lanterns, for the first time during the past two centuries, are decorating palace halls and corridors, embracing the unique characteristics of the imperial court festival.

The Forbidden City on festive occasion, December 29, 2018. /VCG Photo

"How to ring out the past days and ring in the new year is a constant topic for all the Chinese, no matter in ancient times or nowadays," said Shan, stressing that "the meaning behind the royal customs and ceremonies during the festival is much more profound" as it not only observes domestic affairs but showcases the prosperity of the country.

The exhibition will last for three months from January 6 through April 7.

(Cover: Lanterns decorate the palaces and corridors in the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, January 5, 2019. /VCG Photo)

https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d514e314d444f31457a6333566d54/share_p.html

 

[TaiShang]

Railway station gears up for Spring Festival travel rush
By Wu Jin


A young man is ready for security check outside the entrance of the Beijing West Railway Station. [Photo by Guo Jie/China.org.cn]
The Beijing West Railway Station, one of the three major railway stations in the capital city, is forecast to face an annual travel peak during the Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 5 this year.

According to relevant officials, the Beijing West Railway Station is expected to receive 6.05 million visitors from Jan. 21 to March 1 this year. An additional 164,000 visitors are expected to board a train this year, which is a growth of 2.8 percent year-on-year. At the travel peak, from Feb. 1 to 3, the station is estimated to receive 220,000 visitors per day.

The station authorities have streamlined security checks to accommodate with the world's largest annual human migration. These processes include enabling mobile payments at parking lots and placing automatic ticket machines in various areas to divide travel flows.

Backup services include the extra night shift buses, shuttle buses, Metro Line 7, WiFi, and tailored taxi services.

In addition, a division of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport in Xicheng district has been working with more than 30 taxi companies to send about 1,000 to 1,500 cars to the station at midnight, one of the busiest times of the festive season.

"We hope we can ensure a safe, orderly, and comfortable transportation service during the Spring Festival for the peculiar 40 days," said Huang Daqing, a spokesperson for the West Railway Station.

A huge amount of young people, who have relocated to bigger cities for better job opportunities, are expected to return home for the age-old tradition of a family reunion during the Spring Festival.

Beijing West Railway Station authorities hold a press conference on Jan. 8, 2019, to showcase their streamlined services as they prepare for the upcoming Spring Festival travel boom. [Photo by Wu Jin/China.org.cn]


http://www.china.org.cn/china/2019-01/10/content_74358527_2.htm

 

[TaiShang]

Workers make steamed bun with colorful patterns for Spring Festival in Shandong

(Xinhua) 16:31, January 10, 2019



A worker makes steamed bun in Laixi City of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 8, 2019. Steamed bun with colorful patterns is a traditional food during the Spring Festival in some parts of China. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)



A worker makes steamed bun in Laixi City of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 8, 2019. Steamed bun with colorful patterns is a traditional food during the Spring Festival in some parts of China. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)



Workers make steamed bun in Laixi City of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 8, 2019. Steamed bun with colorful patterns is a traditional food during the Spring Festival in some parts of China. (Xinhua/Ding Hongfa)



Customers pick steamed bun in Laixi City of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 8, 2019. Steamed bun with colorful patterns is a traditional food during the Spring Festival in some parts of China. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)



Workers display steamed bun in Laixi City of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 8, 2019. Steamed bun with colorful patterns is a traditional food during the Spring Festival in some parts of China. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

A customer picks a birthday cake-shaped steamed bun in Laixi City of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 8, 2019. Steamed bun with colorful patterns is a traditional food during the Spring Festival in some parts of China. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/0110/c90000-9536630-6.html

 

[TaiShang]

Events celebrating Spring Festival launched in Zhengzhou

Xinhua, January 13, 2019



A craftswoman shows embroidery skill at the launching ceremony of a series of events to celebrate the forthcoming Lunar New Year, at Zijingshan Park in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, on Jan. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Li An)


A girl interacts with a lion dance performer at the launching ceremony of a series of events to celebrate the forthcoming Lunar New Year, at Zijingshan Park in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, on Jan. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Li An)


A child views dough figurines at the launching ceremony of a series of events to celebrate the forthcoming Lunar New Year, at Zijingshan Park in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, on Jan. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Li An)


Traditional tiger-head shoes are on display at the launching ceremony of a series of events to celebrate the forthcoming Lunar New Year, at Zijingshan Park in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, on Jan. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Li An)


A craftsman shows traditional Chinese paper-cutting skills at the launching ceremony of a series of events to celebrate the forthcoming Lunar New Year, at Zijingshan Park in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, on Jan. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Li An)


A craftsman shows traditional Chinese paper-cutting skills at the launching ceremony of a series of events to celebrate the forthcoming Lunar New Year, at Zijingshan Park in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, on Jan. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Li An)

A craftsman makes traditional wood carvings at the launching ceremony of a series of events to celebrate the forthcoming Lunar New Year, at Zijingshan Park in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, on Jan. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Li An)

 

[TaiShang]

People across China prepare to celebrate coming Spring Festival

(Xinhua) 15:50, January 14, 2019



People order tailored clothes in Xuanen County of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 13, 2019. People across China prepare to celebrate the coming Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 5 this year. (Xinhua/Song Wen)



Folk artists practise dragon dance in Xuanen County of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 13, 2019. People across China prepare to celebrate the coming Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 5 this year. (Xinhua/Song Wen)



People buy products for Spring Festival in Xuanen County of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 13, 2019. People across China prepare to celebrate the coming Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 5 this year. (Xinhua/Song Wen)



People make Ciba, or glutinous rice cake in Xuanen County of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 13, 2019. People across China prepare to celebrate the coming Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 5 this year. (Xinhua/Song Wen)

Folk artists practise dragon dance in Xuanen County of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 13, 2019. People across China prepare to celebrate the coming Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 5 this year. (Xinhua/Song Wen)

http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/0114/c90000-9537550-5.html