New way to celebrate the New Year

Special Report:2009 Spring Festival

The New Year is the time for families to get together but a huge feast is not the only way to celebrate. Our reporter Xu Zhaoqun went to a recreation center in Beijing to see the people there saw in the Year of the Ox.

Nowadaysgreatfoodisavailableinmanysuburbanrecreation
centers.ANewYeardinnerintheseplacesisratherdelicious.
(File photo)

Setting fireworks off outside the city may not be any different from in the city center, but good food is appreciated much more out here. Well known restaurants in Beijing's suburbs were fully booked for weeks before the New Year.

Nowadays great food is available in many suburban recreation centers. A New Year dinner in these places is rather delicious.

Fish is a must on the New Year dinner table. The Chinese word for fish is "YU", the same sound as another Chinese character which means abundant. It's a symbol of good luck for all Chinese, including Mr. Huang and his family.

Huang and two of his brothers run their own business in Beijing. They have moved to Beijing and don't want to travel back to their hometown in Zhejiang Province for the New Year. Huang says all his family members want a fresh start in the New Year.

Mr. Huang, Businessman, said, "We experienced so many good and bad things in the past year. I think we need a special celebration to start our business in the new year."

Huang's teenage daughter introduced an innovation this year. She greeted the older generation with a song instead of kowtowing or bowing.

Just having a good meal is obviously not enough for the celebrations. A relaxing soak in a hot spring is good for the body and soul on a cold winter day.

Out with the old and in with the new. These little fish nibble away dead skin.

Mr. Xu, Beijing Citizen, said, "It is fashionable to spend some time in the water. Everybody in my family agreed to spend New Year's Eve having a bath here. This is special, but we do like it here."

The maze-like rooms of bath is always a fun place for kids. Exploring among the pools and artificial plants is much more interesting than sitting at a big table greeting senior family members.