Pre - Chinese New YEar

The Chinese New Year will be in Feb.18 this 2007, trains and cities are packed with people going home to their families, and others taking the opportunity of time away from work and school to go traveling to other cities in China.

This is the first time I’ll be spending Chinese New Year away from my family and in Beijing. It should be interesting. My roommate insists that I should go home with her if I’m not going home myself. I’m beginning to realize that Chinese New Year is more a big deal to the local Chinese than Christmas is to a lot of foreigners.

I wonder if buying tickets for the train will be any better than before. I remember buying tickets around this time meant lining up for hours, with people butting in line, and finding out by the time you get to the counter that the ticket you want is already sold out.

I for one am not planning to go anywhere, what I want to to do some observation on how the New Year holiday is celebrated here in Beijing. I heard description of it being 热闹, in other words: lively and full of life. On the other hand, I’ve also heard it being quiet, because everyone is at home with their families. I guess we will see then.