Spring Festival celebrations, Lunar New Year events, etc...

[ahojunk]

6 million Chinese tourists expected to go on worldwide spending spree during Spring Festival
(People's Daily Online) 16:34, December 16, 2016

[File photo]

With the approach of the Spring Festival holidays, which will start on Jan. 27, 2017, Chinese tourists are expected to embark on a new round of spending worldwide.

An analysis of international air ticket booking by the Daily Economic News indicates that Chinese tourists will fly to 174 countries and regions during the holiday, and they will spend an average of 9.2 days on their trips.

Airline companies have opened new international routes to cater to Spring Festival travelers. China Southern Airlines, for example, has shifted 30 percent of its capacity to international routes. Hainan Airlines and China Eastern Airlines are also making efforts to compete in international non-stop routes.

China has been the world's largest source of outbound tourists for four consecutive years, and its contribution to global tourism revenue has exceeded 13 percent. According to an analysis of international flight ticket data by Ctrip.com, a major Chinese travel site, Bangkok, Tokyo and Singapore are the most popular destinations among Chinese tourists.

Based on data from the past two years, the analysis indicates that China's outbound tourists are expected to reach 6 million during the 2017 Spring Festival holiday, with per capita spending exceeding 15,000 RMB. This means that, during the Spring Festival period, Chinese tourists will spend 100 billion RMB overseas.

Faced with these numbers, domestic airlines including China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Spring Airlines have all upped their offerings of international non-stop routes. Since December, China Southern Airlines has opened two new international routes – one from Guangzhou to Toronto, Canada, and another from Guangzhou to Adelaide, Australia. The company said it has confidence in the two cities' tourism markets.

On Dec. 2, Hainan Airlines opened a direct route from Beijing to Las Vegas, which is the first direct flight from the Chinese mainland to Las Vegas. China Eastern Airlines has opened new international routes from Shanghai to Chicago, Madrid, Amsterdam and St. Petersburg among others. Media reports have noted that "adding so many long international routes within one year is very rare in the history of China Eastern Airlines."

 

[ahojunk]

Spring Festival: 100,000 requests in 15 hours but no train ticket
(Chinadaily.com.cn) 11:04, January 01, 2017

A migrant worker carries a luggage bag in a railway station in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on Dec 15, 2016. With the festival more than one month away, some migrant workers have packed up their luggage and embarked on the journey back home to avoid the travel rush. [Photo/IC]

The year 2017 is to going to be the hardest Spring Festival journey home, as the number of trips during the holidays is projected to reach nearly three billion. With the passenger number reaching an all-time high, getting hold of a rail ticket is proving to be harder than ever.

A reporter from National Business Daily tried to buy a bullet train ticket from Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, to Changsha, Central China's Hunan province, from the railway operator's official website, 12306.cn, and official app for four straight days between Dec 24 and Dec 28, only to find all his efforts go in vain.

The country's rail operator began issuing tickets 30 days before the New Year's Eve of Spring Festival, a time traditionally for family reunion, which falls on Jan 27.

On Dec 28, the reporter decided to pay 50 yuan ($7.2) more per ticket to try a software that reportedly increases the chances of securing a rail ticket by 69.5 percent. The software tried to bump his name up on the list, but gave up even though the reporter sent 100,000 request in 15 hours.

According to the official weibo account of China Railway Corporation on Dec 26, Changsha ranks third on the list of top 10 destinations across China, only second to Wuhan and Xi'an.

Official data show 12.343 million train tickets were sold on Dec 26, with 9.3 million purchased online, or 75.4 percent of all tickets bought.

"A total of 3,570 pairs of trains will operate after the new schedule comes into effect on Jan 5," said Yang Yudong, Transport Deputy Minister and Head of National Railway Administration, adding that the passenger capacity will increase more than 7 percent compared to the same time of last year.

During the 2016 National Holiday, railways across China undertook 14.41 million trips, setting a new record for railway passenger capacity and far surpassing any daily passenger capacity of previous Spring Festivals.

"As we were able to handle more than 14 million trips during National Holiday, we can also reach that capacity during this Spring Festival," Yang said.

Though the passenger capacity has improved than ever, the pressure on transport system this year is higher than previous years, said Lian Weiliang, Deputy head of National Development and Reform Commission.

National passenger flow volume is expected to create new high, Lian said. He estimates roads to take 2.52 billion trips, up 1 percent from the last year, railways to take 356 million trips, up 9.7 percent from the last year, airways to take 58.3 million trips, up 10 percent from the last year, and waterways to take 43.5 million trips, up 2 percent from the last year.

"The Spring Festival this year has come earlier in recent five years. Students and migrant workers head home in the same time period. Therefore, the travel peak comes earlier, lasts longer and peaks higher," said Lian.


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This is the same for every country during major festivals. The travel rush is expected.
China has come a long way especially with its ever expanding HSR network and expressways.
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[ahojunk]

China emphasizes road safety for Spring Festival travel rush
2016-12-30 09:38 | Xinhua | Editor: Wang Fan

Chinese police will tighten inspections to ensure road safety during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

The ministry's traffic management bureau said it will strengthen checkups targeting unsafe vehicles and unqualified drivers.

Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, will fall on Jan. 28, 2017, the earliest in the last five years. The travel rush, also known as "Chunyun," will begin on Jan. 13 and last until Feb. 21. Nearly 3 billion trips are expected to be made during the period.

Spring Festival is the country's most important family holiday, with hundreds of millions of people heading to their hometowns to meet up with relatives and old friends, which puts huge stress on the transport system.

Authorities will focus on overloading, fatigue, drunk driving and drivers operating vehicles for which they are not licensed during the rush period checkups.

The bureau also warned related agencies to guard against harsh weather, including sleet, snow and smog.


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Good - authorities have started planning for the travel rush.
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[ahojunk]

People greet upcoming new year across China
2017-01-01 10:16 | Xinhua | Editor:Huang Mingrui

Students holding clay patterns in shape of "2017" pose for photos to greet the upcoming new year in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, Dec. 31, 2016. (Xinhua/Liang Xiaopeng)

Children sit to form the pattern of "2017" to greet the upcoming new year at a kindergarten in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, Dec. 30, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiuqiang)

Train attendants pose with "2017" sign to greet the upcoming new year in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, Dec. 31, 2016. (Xinhua/Bao Gansheng)

Medical workers holding red lanterns and signs written with "2017" pose for photos to greet the upcoming new year in Suining City, Sichuan Province, Dec. 31, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhong Min)

Children holding red lanterns written with "2017" pose for photos to greet the upcoming new year in Baokang County, Hubei Province, Dec. 30, 2016. (Xinhua/Yang Tao)

Students hold musical instruments in shape of "2017" to greet the upcoming new year in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 30, 2016. (Xinhua/Long Tao)

 

[ahojunk]

Chinese Lunar New Year to fall on Jan. 28
2017-01-04 16:11 Xinhua Editor:Xu Shanshan

People select New Year decorations at a market in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 4, 2017. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, will fall on Jan. 28 this year. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

People select New Year decorations at a market in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 4, 2017. The Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, will fall on Jan. 28 this year. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

 

[TaiShang]

People prepare for upcoming Spring Festival around China

Xinhua, January 8, 2017, China.org.cn

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Two boys present clay artworks of "nian" made by themselves at a temple fair event for the upcoming Spring Festival in Tianjin, north China, Jan. 7, 2017. "Nian" ( Year in Chinese), is a mythical beast supposed to have preyed on people and livestock at the turn of the year. The monster, however, was afraid of loud bangs and red color. (Xinhua/Liu Dongyue)

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A craftswoman makes festive lanterns for the upcoming Spring Festival in Xuanen County, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 7, 2017. The Spring Festival falls on Jan. 28 this year. (Xinhua/Song Wen)

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A baby is attracted by red lanterns at a fair on Spring Festival shopping in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Region, Jan. 7, 2017. The Spring Festival falls on Jan. 28 this year. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

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Children wearing chicken costumes dance at a temple fair event for the upcoming Spring Festival in Tianjin, north China, Jan. 7, 2017. The Spring Festival falls on Jan. 28 this year. (Xinhua/Liu Dongyue)

Residents do Spring Festival shopping at a fair in Nanning, south China's Guangxi, Jan. 7, 2017. The Spring Festival falls on Jan. 28 this year. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

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Craftswomen make festive lanterns for the upcoming Spring Festival in Xuanen County, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 7, 2017. The Spring Festival falls on Jan. 28 this year. (Xinhua/Song Wen)

 

[ahojunk]

Couplets hung on wall of Ming Dynasty for upcoming Spring Festival
2017-01-08 11:41 | Xinhua | Editor:Yao Lan

People view giant couplets hung on the city wall of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 7, 2016. The 16-meter-long couplets were hung on the wall for the celebration of the coming Spring Festival that falls on Jan. 28. It is a tradition for Chinese to paste couplets on walls to solicit good luck during the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Sun Can)

People view giant couplets hung on the city wall of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 7, 2016. The 16-meter-long couplets were hung on the wall for the celebration of the coming Spring Festival that falls on Jan. 28. It is a tradition for Chinese to paste couplets on walls to solicit good luck during the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Sun Can)

People view giant couplets hung on the city wall of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 7, 2016. The 16-meter-long couplets were hung on the wall for the celebration of the coming Spring Festival that falls on Jan. 28. It is a tradition for Chinese to paste couplets on walls to solicit good luck during the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Sun Can)


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This was also done during last year's Spring Festival.

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[Place Of Space]

Couplets hung on wall of Ming Dynasty for upcoming Spring Festival
2017-01-08 11:41 | Xinhua | Editor:Yao Lan

View attachment 366788
People view giant couplets hung on the city wall of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 7, 2016. The 16-meter-long couplets were hung on the wall for the celebration of the coming Spring Festival that falls on Jan. 28. It is a tradition for Chinese to paste couplets on walls to solicit good luck during the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Sun Can)


View attachment 366790
People view giant couplets hung on the city wall of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 7, 2016. The 16-meter-long couplets were hung on the wall for the celebration of the coming Spring Festival that falls on Jan. 28. It is a tradition for Chinese to paste couplets on walls to solicit good luck during the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Sun Can)


View attachment 366791
People view giant couplets hung on the city wall of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 7, 2016. The 16-meter-long couplets were hung on the wall for the celebration of the coming Spring Festival that falls on Jan. 28. It is a tradition for Chinese to paste couplets on walls to solicit good luck during the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Sun Can)


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This was also done during last year's Spring Festival.

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Hope i don't write wongly down the poetic couplet,,,

闻鸡起舞驾九万里长风同追梦想
击鼓放歌集五千年锐气再振中华

横批:_________

Guys, come to write the title!
mine firstly: 筑梦世界

 

[rott]

Hope i don't write wongly down the poetic couplet,,,

闻鸡起舞驾九万里长风同追梦想
击鼓放歌集五千年锐气再振中华

横批:_________

Guys, come to write the title!
mine firstly: 筑梦世界

我不是诗人

 

[TaiShang]

Folk artists makes woodblock paintings for Spring Festival market in China
(Xinhua) January 10, 2017



Folk artists hang newly-made woodblock new year paintings up to dry in Yangjiabu Village of Hanting District in Weifang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 10, 2017. Local folk artists were busying making woodblock paintings for the Spring Festival market. (Xinhua/Zhang Chi)



Folk artists hang newly-made woodblock new year paintings up to dry in Yangjiabu Village of Hanting District in Weifang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 10, 2017. Local folk artists were busying making woodblock paintings for the Spring Festival market. (Xinhua/Zhang Chi)



A folk artist prints woodblock new year paintings in Yangjiabu Village of Hanting District in Weifang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 10, 2017. Local folk artists were busying making woodblock paintings for the Spring Festival market. (Xinhua/Zhang Chi)

 

[ahojunk]

Lanterns prepared for coming Chinese Lunar New Year in Macao
2017-01-11 10:03 | Xinhua | Editor:Xu Shanshan

Staff members prepare lanterns for the coming Chinese Lunar New Year in Macao, south China, Jan. 10, 2017. The Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 28, 2017. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

A staff member prepares lanterns for the coming Chinese Lunar New Year in Macao, south China, Jan. 10, 2017. The Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 28, 2017. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)

 

[TaiShang]

Villagers make red lanterns for Spring Festival in N China
(Xinhua) January 13, 2017



A little girl plays with a red lantern in a lantern workshop in Beileng Township of Wenxian County, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 12, 2017. Villagers need to keep up with the lantern orders to meet the Spring Festival market demand. The Spring Festival falls on Jan. 28 this year. (Xinhua/Xu Hongxing)




A villager makes red lanterns in Beileng Township of Wenxian County, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 12, 2017. Villagers need to keep up with the lantern orders to meet the Spring Festival market demand. The Spring Festival falls on Jan. 28 this year. (Xinhua/Xu Hongxing)



A villager walks among red lanterns in Beileng Township of Wenxian County, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 12, 2017. Villagers need to keep up with the lantern orders to meet the Spring Festival market demand. The Spring Festival falls on Jan. 28 this year. (Xinhua/Xu Hongxing)



Villagers make red lanterns in Beileng Township of Wenxian County, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 12, 2017. Villagers need to keep up with the lantern orders to meet the Spring Festival market demand. The Spring Festival falls on Jan. 28 this year. (Xinhua/Xu Hongxing)

Villagers make red lanterns in Beileng Township of Wenxian County, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 12, 2017. Villagers need to keep up with the lantern orders to meet the Spring Festival market demand. The Spring Festival falls on Jan. 28 this year. (Xinhua/Xu Hongxing)

 

[ahojunk]

Sales of traditional steamed buns boom ahead of Spring Festival in N China
2017-01-13 15:33 | Xinhua | Editor:Xu Shanshan

A worker paints a red dot on the surface of a steamed bun in the production base in Tuocun Village of Yangcheng County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 12, 2017. The sales of traditional steamed buns are booming ahead of the Spring Festival, which falls on Jan. 28 this year. Over 90,000 steamed buns will be made this month to supply the local market and other cities. (Xinhua/Chen Yuanzi)

Workers make steamed buns in the production base in Tuocun Village of Yangcheng County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 12, 2017. The sales of traditional steamed buns are booming ahead of the Spring Festival, which falls on Jan. 28 this year. Over 90,000 steamed buns will be made this month to supply the local market and other cities. (Xinhua/Chen Yuanzi)

Workers air the steamed buns in the production base in Tuocun Village of Yangcheng County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 12, 2017. The sales of traditional steamed buns are booming ahead of the Spring Festival, which falls on Jan. 28 this year. Over 90,000 steamed buns will be made this month to supply the local market and other cities. (Xinhua/Chen Yuanzi)

 

[TaiShang]

Visitors view lantern fair at Yuyuan Garden in China's Shanghai
(Xinhua) 10:05, January 14, 2017




　　Visitors view the lanterns during a trial display of the lantern festival in Yuyuan Garden in east China's Shanghai Municipality, Jan. 13, 2017. The lantern fair in Yuyuan Garden, one of China's national intangible cultural heritages, is a key cultural event in Shanghai during the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)



　　Visitors view the lanterns during a trial display of the lantern festival in Yuyuan Garden in east China's Shanghai Municipality, Jan. 13, 2017. The lantern fair in Yuyuan Garden, one of China's national intangible cultural heritages, is a key cultural event in Shanghai during the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)



　　Visitors view the lanterns during a trial display of the lantern festival in Yuyuan Garden in east China's Shanghai Municipality, Jan. 13, 2017. The lantern fair in Yuyuan Garden, one of China's national intangible cultural heritages, is a key cultural event in Shanghai during the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)



　　Visitors view the lanterns during a trial display of the lantern festival in Yuyuan Garden in east China's Shanghai Municipality, Jan. 13, 2017. The lantern fair in Yuyuan Garden, one of China's national intangible cultural heritages, is a key cultural event in Shanghai during the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

　　Visitors view the lanterns during a trial display of the lantern festival in Yuyuan Garden in east China's Shanghai Municipality, Jan. 13, 2017. The lantern fair in Yuyuan Garden, one of China's national intangible cultural heritages, is a key cultural event in Shanghai during the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

@Shotgunner51

 

[ahojunk]

Decorations appear across Beijing as lunar New Year is coming
2017-01-11 09:04 | Xinhua | Editor:Li Yan

Citizens pass by red lanterns at the Wangfujing shopping district in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2017. Decorations like lanterns and streamers appeared across Beijing as the lunar New Year is coming. (Xinhua/Chen Xiaogen)

A festive decoration is seen at the Wangfujing shopping district in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2017. Decorations like lanterns and streamers appeared across Beijing as the lunar New Year is coming. (Xinhua/Chen Xiaogen)

A festive decoration is seen at the Wangfujing shopping district in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2017. Decorations like lanterns and streamers appeared across Beijing as the lunar New Year is coming. (Xinhua/Chen Xiaogen)