- Title: CHINA: CHINESE YEAR OF THE DRAGON STARTS WITH A BANG
- Date: 4th February 2000
- Summary: YANZHAO TOWN, HEBEI PROVINCE, CHINA (FEBRUARY 4-5, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. TV/LAS: CHILDREN LETTING OFF FIRECRAKERS TO USHER IN YEAR OF THE DRAGON (2 SHOTS) 0.13 2. CU: CLOSE-UP OF FIRECRACKERS EXPLODING ON THE GROUND 0.17 3. SV: CHILD WAVING FIRECRACKERS AROUND IN A CIRCLE 0.22 4. GV: FIRECRACKERS EXPLODING ON THE GROUND 0.30 5. GV: FIREWORKS EXPLODING 0.42 6. CU: FIREWORK BEING LIT BY A CIGARETTE 0.57 7. SLV: FAMILY LIGHTING FIREWORKS; WOMAN SPEAKING (2 SHOTS) 1.13 8. SV: PEOPLE WATCHING FIREWORKS 1.21 9. WIDE: VIEW OF FIREWORKS EXPLODING IN HUGE ARC IN SKY 1.27 10. SV: SOLDIER LIGHTING FIREWORK WITH CIGARETTE 1.35 11. WIDE: VIEW OF FIREWORKS EXPLODING 1.42 12. SV/BV: VARIOUS OF CHILDREN WATCHING FIREWORKS (2 SHOTS) 2.03 BEIJING, CHINA (FEBUARY 5, 2000) (REUTERS) 13. SV: CROWD COUNTING DOWN TO MIDNIGHT AND STRIKING BELL STRIKING TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON 2.10 14. VARIOUS: OF SEVERAL PEOPLE STRIKING BELL; BELL ; STATUE (10 SHOTS) 3.03 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 19th February 2000 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: YANZHAO TOWN, HEBEI PROVINCE, BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Reuters ID: LVA950TPCYD3WP2GZEQ8SV9GOHJ0
- Story Text: The Chinese Year of the Dragon has started with a bang
as families ushered in the year of the dragon by letting off
traditional rounds of firecrackers.
China has ushered the year of the dragon with a bang,
setting off firecrackers and ringing bells in temples.
Since ancient times, the custom of lighting explosives
been an intergral part of New Year's Eve - and this year is no
exception.
Residents of Beijing flocked to the outskirts of the city
to set off fireworks.
As New Year's eve got underway, authorities have braced
themselves for the annual, usually futile battle to control
fireworks in the country that invented them.
Traditionally, fireworks are supposed to scare away any
ghosts from the last year -- but for most people, it's just
plain fun.
Letting off fireworks is banned in major cities, including
Beijing and Shanghai.
But in Yanzhao, 50 kilometers outside the capital, it is
an important part of life.
"It's going to bring good luck for the next year.Everyone
should let off firecrackers", said Chen Jing.
Families living in the countryside congregated in the cold
night to participate in a ceremony that dates back thousands
of years.
In Beijing, thousands of people gathered at the Big Bell
temple to bid farewell to the Year of the Rabbit and usher in
the Year of the Dragon.
For Chinese people the world over, this lunar New Year is
doubly auspicious, as it's the first of the new millennium and
the Year of the Golden Dragon, an especially auspicious zodiak
symbol.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None