10th February, 2001
Chinese Temple Fair In Grand View Gardens. Large Picture Of White Rabbits At Entrance. Older Men Play Chinese Classical Instruments
February, 1999
The Chinese Temple Fair in Beijing which celebrated, "The Year Of The Rabbit"  and held at the Grand View Gardens, was an event which made up for the lack of firecrackers on New Year's Eve. At the entrance to the gardens, a huge 3D picture of rabbits was a popular background for photographs, even for the dance troups who had been performing outside the gardens, to the sounds of trumpets and drums. The layout of the Gardens is based on a very famous Chinese classic titled, "A Dream Of Red Mansions", and although I had visited the gardens many times before, to be on a visit during a Spring Festival was a new and exciting experience. To get to the Garden entrance we had to pass many stalls and then to squeeze pass crowds of people watching dancers in the courtyard. The sound of drums, cymbals and trumpets added to the festival atmosphere, and although I could not distinguish a particular tune, it was very lively and appreciated by the Chinese people.
 Seated around a table in another part of the Gardens, a group of older men were also giving a performance with their classical instruments, attracting the attention of the passers-by, including some young boys, whom I am sure would have been just as familiar with Western Disco Music.
 Although I had been at the Gardens at the height of Summer, in blazing heat, and at the height of Winter with a thin layer of snow on the ground and the trees covered in hoar frost, I had never seen the Gardens decorated with so many flags and bunting, and one bridge was festooned with a mass of red lanterns making it a spectacular sight in the bright sunlight. The color Red is undoubtedly much favoured by Chinese people, but can anyone tell me the reason Why ?
If you are interested in further New Year topics, such as...
Wise Man Brings Prosperity For New Year In Beijing...
Temple Fair In Beijing...
Temple Fair Food And Snacks...
New Year Temple Fair In Dalian...
...then just click them !
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