10th February, 2001
China Celebrates The Chinese New Year Of The Rabbit. Chinese Wise Man, Bringer Of Prosperity, Stands In Hotel Lobby
February, 1999
When China celebrates, it celebrates in a grand style, and for the Chinese people world-wide, the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year  is an event to be enjoyed to the full. Having spent many previous celebrations with Chinese families in the UK., for the first time, I was to be in China itself in its capital of Beijing, on the eve of the Year Of The Rabbit. As our airport taxi approached the Grand View Garden Hotel, the road in front of the hotel was busy with Chinese people erecting their stalls for the Temple Fair, and festooning the road with decorations. Inside the lobby, in front of the stairway, was a larger than life size model of one of the three legendary Wise Men of China, the "Bringer Of Prosperity". On each side of the stairway, were pine trees decorated with red Fun Bao envelopes, eagerly anticipated by children at the time of the Spring Festival, as they contain gifts of money. I did check the hotel envelopes, but they were empty!
 On New Year's Eve Zhang said we must eat dumplings so we went to a large restaurant near to the hotel to find it closed, but through the window we could see the staff seated at one of the tables. Zhang boldly went in and asked whether they would prepare a meal for us. What do you think they said ? ..... We were ushered to one of the tables and quite quickly afterwards served with our meal, including two large dishes of delicious savoury dumplings. How's that for service ! Half an hour before midnight we walked down to the crossroads near the Grand View Gardens and I was hoping to see a splendid display of fireworks lighting up the sky, but of course the only ones we saw and heard were far out in the surrounding countryside, as fireworks are forbidden in the city because of the pollution they cause. I would have to wait until our visit to Dalian to experience the traditional firecracker celebrations of the New Year.
If you are interested in further New Year topics, such as...
Temple Fair In Beijing...
Temple Fair, Grand View Gardens...
Temple Fair Food And Snacks...
New Year Temple Fair In Dalian...
...then just click them !
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