Chinese revelers end their 15-day Lunar New Year celebrations with Lantern Festival, or Yuanxiao Festival. This year's Lantern Festival falls on February 14.
courtesy Elizabeth Eastman Fox
First full moon —
The Lantern Festival celebrates the first full moon of the Lunar New Year.
courtesy Elizabeth Eastman Fox
Yuyuan, Shanghai —
In Shanghai, the most popular Lantern Festival takes place at Yuyuan, where crowds rub shoulders to see thousands of decorative lanterns.
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Fireworks and tangyuan —
Lunar New Year celebrations begin with blazing fireworks and overeating, and end with the same activities. Traditionally, families gather to eat tangyuan (glutinous rice balls stuffed with sweet or savory fillings in soup) and admire lanterns.
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Confucius Temple, Nanjing —
Locals stock up on lanterns at the market at Confucius Temple in Nanjing before the big day.
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Chinese Valentine's Day —
In ancient days, single women were allowed to leave home only during the Lantern Festival -- this is when they finally had chance to meet their lovers. Hence, in addition to a family celebration, Lantern Festival is also known as the Chinese Valentine's Day.
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Lantern Festival vs. Valentine's Day —
With the Lantern Festival and Western Valentine's Day overlapping this year, a heated debate has arisen in China over whether to celebrate the day with parents or with lovers.
courtesy Elizabeth Eastman Fox
Splendid China Folk Village, Shenzhen —
Last year's Lantern Festival in the Splendid China Folk Village in Shenzhen was typically bright.