Happy Lunar New Year!

During Chinese New Year, the city of Shanghai empties as people leave the city to spend the holiday with their families. The result is an oddly empty city. Here we were walking around Xujiahui at around midnight on Chinese New Year. Fireworks were literally exploding all around us. There isn't a single fireworks show like what we have on the Fourth of July; rather, individuals, or individual businesses, buy fireworks and simply light them on the sidewalk. Walking out onto the street, you almost feel like you're experiencing a war zone. The sound of all those fireworks exploding makes normal conversation impossible. We were at some friends' apartment recently. Their apartment is located on the east side of the river on the 31st floor. We can actually see the river and part of the west side skyline from their balcony. Fireworks were going off all evening, but started to get really intense around midnight. It was really cool to watch the entire city exploding with fireworks. Still pictures don't do the sight as much justice as a video, which Eric is editing now.

Chinese New Year actually is observed over the course of 15 days, with each day having a special significance and with special rituals that are traditionally observed as well as special foods that are eaten. On New Year's Eve, you are supposed to to open windows and doors to let good luck in. On New Year's day, you are not supposed to clean as that will sweep away your good luck. And on it goes. I'll share more as I figure this out.