CRI听力: Spring Festival on the Way

Wednesday marks Chinese New Year's eve. Our He Fei now on what many people here in China will be up to during the holiday.



There are only 2 days until Spring Festival eve.

In this lead up, many people are now cooking staples for the coming festivities, and normally do their cooking by traditional standards.
 
Li Baochen is a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"It is a custom to prepare enough staple food for the festive period on today. In northern China, the staple foods are usually made of flour, and in the south, they are more often made of rice."

On top of cooking, shopping is another must do for this time of year.

As such, shopping malls and various of markets are always overcrowded.

So with that in mind, many young people are now leaning toward online-shopping.

"Before, I had to carry all gifts with me on the overcrowded train. When I got home, some might already broke. But if I buy them online, for example, I buy a pack of Beijing duck, the seller can send it directly to my home. And my family will receive the gift even before I get home."

"Online-shopping is convenient and the prices are cheaper."

Most online stores and retailing websites have put away enough stock to cover their customers during the festival.

Visiting temple fairs is another traditional way to celebrate the Spring Festival.

Though a very old custom, temple fairs remain popular even today.

In Gaobeidian, in the eastern part of Beijing, the time-tested annual Caoyun Temple Fair has opened for a week.

"We come to the temple fair every year. This is already the sixth year. We like it very much."

"It's quite bustling here with festive and lively atmosphere."

Many other parks in Beijing are also setting up temple fairs and other celebrations during the week long festival.

The Temple of Heaven will reproduce the ancient royal ceremony to worship Heaven, while the Summer Palace will also put on performances for Spring Festival revelers.

For CRI, I'm He Fei.