Special Report: Lunar New Year 2009 - Part 2
Edited by Frederik Schipper
Hong Kong - February 8 - IJS-Global - How did people all over China greet the Year of the Ox? Did they cut on their spendings as a result of the financial tsunami? Or was it business as usual?
Guangzhou, Jan 23: New Year decorations at the entrance of the Tian He flower fair. Photo: Bridget Zhang
In order to find answers to these questions and more, graduate students from The School of Communication of Hong Kong Baptist University report on Lunar New Year festivities from datelines across China.
Economics:
- In Wuxi, trishaw drivers were unable to go back home for the Spring Festival, reports Steven Shi.
- In Xin Hui, Guangdong, an old lady spends the holidays lonely and bored in a nursing home, reports Tiara Lin.
- In Hong Kong, people are worried about the financial crisis but they have good hopes that the Year of the Ox will be better, reports Thein Win Nyo.
- All over China, the so-called “Me Generation” are experiencing setbacks in their life for the first time, reports Jin Ran Cherry.
- In Shenzhen, restaurants say they aren’t hurt by the financial crisis when it comes to dinner reservations for the Lunar New Year’s Eve, Alice Li Yuan reports.
Traditions:
- In Hong Kong, non-local students experience traditional Lunar New Year festivities for the first time, Yvonne Yang reports.
- In the town of Guangzhou, five flower markets opened in five different districts, Bridget Zhang reports.
- Over in Ningbo, the famous dessert, Tang Yuan, is a vital part of the New Year dinner, Sara Chen reports.
Sports:
- Meanwhile, back in Hong Kong the traditional Lunar New Year football tournament, won by local side South China Pegasus, wasn’t affected by the financial crisis, Frederik Schipper reports.
