Lunar New Year 2009
February 3, 2009
People celebrate the Lunar New Year by lighting fireworks in the White Horse Sculpture Park in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. White Horse Sculpture Park is known as Bai Ma Gong Yuan in Mandarin Chinese. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
Buddhist worshippers crowd into the Jiming Temple in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, on the night before Lunar New Year to burn incense (also known as joss sticks) and pray for prosperity for the new year. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
People crowd a ticket booth to enter the Jiming Temple in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, on the night before Lunar New Year. Crowds pack the tunnel on New Year holidays to pray for prosperity for the next year. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
Buddhist worshippers crowd into the Jiming Temple in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, on the night before Lunar New Year to burn incense (also known as joss sticks) and ceremonial lotus candles and pray for prosperity for the new year. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
Buddhist worshippers crowd into the Jiming Temple in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, on the night before Lunar New Year to burn incense (also known as joss sticks) and pray for prosperity for the new year. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
Buddhist worshippers crowd into the Jiming Temple in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, on the night before Lunar New Year to burn incense (also known as joss sticks) and pray for prosperity for the new year. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
A garbage collecter takes used fireworks boxes from the street in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, on the night of Lunar New Year celebrations. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
Debris from Lunar New Year fireworks celebrations litter the ground in the White Horse Sculpture Park in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. White Horse Sculpture Park is known as Bai Ma Gong Yuan in Mandarin Chinese. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
People celebrate the Lunar New Year by sending paper lanterns into the air in the White Horse Sculpture Park in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. White Horse Sculpture Park is known as Bai Ma Gong Yuan in Mandarin Chinese. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
People celebrate the Lunar New Year by lighting fireworks in the White Horse Sculpture Park in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. White Horse Sculpture Park is known as Bai Ma Gong Yuan in Mandarin Chinese. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
People celebrate the Lunar New Year by lighting fireworks in the White Horse Sculpture Park in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. White Horse Sculpture Park is known as Bai Ma Gong Yuan in Mandarin Chinese. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
A fireworks seller stands on the back of a flatbed truck with fireworks for sale in White Horse Sculpture Park on the night of Lunar New Year celebrations in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
People argue with a policeman on the night of Lunar New Year celebrations in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. The policeman confiscated fireworks and tore up lanterns. The man in a parka and beanie (right) was seen to speak with the policeman after the confrontation, likely an undercover policeman. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
People celebrate the Lunar New Year by lighting fireworks in the White Horse Sculpture Park in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. White Horse Sculpture Park is known as Bai Ma Gong Yuan in Mandarin Chinese. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
A seller displays so-called Hell Money in a Lunar New Year market in Pukou near Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. Hell Money is traditionally burnt as an offering to one’s deceased ancestors. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, or Year of the Cow, or Year of the Bull.
People play a ring-toss game in a Lunar New Year market in Pukou near Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, or Year of the Cow, or Year of the Bull.
The Lunar Year 2009 is the Year of the Ox according to the Chinese zodiac.
A person shoots fireworks out of a high-rise apartment building’s window on the night of Lunar New Year celebrations in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. Lunar New Year is also known as Chinese New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Cow, or the Year of the Bull, according to the Chinese zodiac. Niu is the Mandarin word for ox/cow/bull.
2009 is the Year of the Ox and the crowds were busy celebrating in Nanjing earlier this week. As in the rest of China, the holiday's generally a family affair. While there are a few organized public gatherings, temple fairs and the like, the day is usually spent like Christmas in the West; lots of food and family. But, once evening rolls around the fireworks start popping, lanterns start going into the air, and temples fill with worshippers praying for a prosperous year ahead. In Jiming Temple, where some of the photos below were taken, a girl was overheard talking with a friend, "Wow! So many people!" Her companion responded, matter-of-factly, "What do you think it'd be like in an economic crisis?!"
