Temat: China ushers in year of the pig

China ushers in year of the pig

The whole country has been getting ready to celebrate
People across China are celebrating the arrival of the Lunar New Year - China's most important festival which is seen as particularly auspicious this year.

The year of the pig is supposed to bring good luck and prosperity. But this time it is a golden pig year, which happens once in six decades.

Vast numbers have been on the move to be with their family for celebrations.

Carnival dragons have been on parade and fireworks have been lighting up the night sky in Beijing and elsewhere.

State TV broadcast images of President Hu Jintao visiting a Chinese family to wish them well.

Big shut-down

The whole country of China has been getting ready to celebrate.

The pig is the last of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac
Pigs symbolise good luck, but also turbulence
2007 is the year of the fire (golden) pig
Babies born in Golden Pig years are believed to be particularly lucky.

There are red lanterns hanging in the parks, dragon dance performances and traditional fairs at some of the country's biggest temples.

More than 150 million people have been travelling, using whatever means of transport they can to get to their home town and join in family celebrations.

Direct flights are also allowed between China and Taiwan for New Year.

Increased affluence and a greater number of migrant workers has added to the strain on China's transport system.

'Turbulence'

The Year of the Golden Pig falls once every 60 years.

Some soothsayers warn that the pig can bring turbulence, and warn of a rise in natural disasters and conflict in 2007.

The Year of the Pig will also be celebrated with greater sensitivity in some Asian countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia with large Muslim populations, which view pigs as offensive and unclean.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6368383.stm