Chinese New Year in J's hometown of Nanjing was a trip in itself complete with major fireworks, multiple seafood-driven banquet hall dinners with J's family, and plenty of gift-giving and Baijiu toasting. We had all of the most elaborate dishes presented to us including shark fin soup, abalone, drunken chicken, braised squab, dongpo rou (pork belly), and many more.
On the night of the 3rd, J's cousins were gracious enough to let us tag along for the fireworks festivities. A group of young Chinese gathered along the main drag and shot off enormous boxes of fireworks for nearly an hour. By the end of the night, the streets and sidewalks were littered in red dust and papers and the sky was still booming with explosions into the morning.
The whole city (and country I'd imagine) was decked out in red lanterns, gold luck charms, well wishes, as well as massive year of the rabbit displays. I wonder if they will keep them in storage for twelve years until the next year of the rabbit or toss them out and begin anew.
[1-4. c. lynn]
