Lantern Festival celebrated across China

From ChinaTravelGuide

Hundreds of lanterns are seen at Nanshan Park, Helingeer County, Hohhot City, Feb. 5, 2012, the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Since the Lantern Festival is held to mark the first full moon of the new lunar year, Chinese celebrate it by hanging colorful lanterns, playing games and gathering with friends to eat sweetened rice dumplings. [Xinhua]
Folk artists give acrobatic stilt performance to celebrate the Lantern Festival in suburban Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2012. China celebrated on Monday its traditional Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Since the Lantern Festival is held to mark the first full moon of the new lunar year, Chinese celebrate it by hanging colorful lanterns, playing games and gathering with friends to eat sweetened rice dumplings. [Xinhua]
Folk artists take part in a festive parade to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Weifang, east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 6, 2012. China celebrated on Monday its traditional Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Since the Lantern Festival is held to mark the first full moon of the new lunar year, Chinese celebrate it by hanging colorful lanterns, playing games and gathering with friends to eat sweetened rice dumplings. [Xinhua]
Lion Dance performers take part in the annual Yangko dancing show to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Feb. 6, 2012. China celebrated on Monday its traditional Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Since the Lantern Festival is held to mark the first full moon of the new lunar year, Chinese celebrate it by hanging colorful lanterns, playing games and gathering with friends to eat sweetened rice dumplings. [Xinhua]
People play waist drums in Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, to celebrate the Lantern Festival on Feb. 6, 2012. China celebrated on Monday its traditional Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Since the Lantern Festival is held to mark the first full moon of the new lunar year, Chinese celebrate it by hanging colorful lanterns, playing games and gathering with friends to eat sweetened rice dumplings. [Xinhua]