The ancient capital Xi´an shines

With the Chinese New Year just around the corner, the festive mood is growing across the country. The ancient capital Xi'an in northwest China is taking on a lovely look with dazzling lanterns.

All over town, people are busy setting up the lanterns for the lunar new year. It's a tradition that dates back 15 centuries to the Tang Dynasty. This year's theme is inspired by the way the Tang dynasty celebrations used to look in Xi'an long ago: a city wide awake and all lit up by colorful lanterns.

There will be the annual temple fairs and folk art exhibitions, but what's new this year are the displays on the city's traditional culture, its historical city walls, and and the upcoming Olympics. Even the cute mascot "Fuwa" have been made into lanterns.

Festival workers are putting the finishing touches on what will be Xi'an's largest lantern festival for the lunar new year - with the most lanterns and the biggest display area ever.