Chinese New Year

We attended the New Year festival at Daming Lake in Jinan.   Fireworks and firecrackers erupted from everywhere on New Year’s Eve  (February 7).  They started at 5:00 PM and ended around 1:00 AM.  They continued every night for the next 10 days.  The Chinese people celebrate big for this holiday.  It is comparable to our Christmas break.  The first few days are designated family days.  

The park was very crowded.  It was a beautiful day and many took advantage of the favorable weather to celebrate with family.

The lanterns are a huge part of the celebration.  I would like to bring some home.

The lantern festival is the final holiday concluding the New Year celebration.  Every business hangs red lanterns and other décor for the event.  The city was truly festive.

 This is a potato – thinly cut in a spiral fashion, placed on a skewer, fried, and drizzled with Ketchup.  Delicious!!

Daming Lake is a beautiful, serene spot in the middle of the city.

This is an interesting carnival game depicting the old Chinese money.   Throw the ball through the center of the coin.  An Asian twist on an old carnival idea.

Downtown decorations.  This décor usually has an historical story accompanying it.  I just don’t know all of them.    

This man is making small dumplings.  First he spins the small “dough balls” in flour, then rinses them in water, they drain and then the whole process is repeated.

Notice the multi-colored-flavored marshmallow treats. 

Rick sampled the orange flavored treats.  Yummy!!