Early events mark Lantern Festival

It's just a couple of days before the Chinese Lantern Festival. It falls on the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year or February 21st this year.

In Shenzhen, in South China's Guangdong Province, the holiday spirit is already underway in anticipation of the big day.(CCTV.com)

In Shenzhen, in South China's Guangdong Province, the holiday spirit is already underway in anticipation of the big day.

Folk performances are a joyful part of the season in Hualian. This show, in its fifth year, captivated visitors with its traditional repertoire and also with programmes centered on the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

Visitors from home and abroad were enthusiastic.

Over five hundred migrant workers in Shenzhen were invited to celebrate the festival among the local people.

Lantern Festival can't be without lanterns, naturally. A four-day exhibition uniting illuminated floats,stunning performances and ice lanterns of many shapes and sizes opens Thursday.

Traditional lantern riddles are waiting for visitors to figure out. Those who get the correct answer get a half-price discount on their admission fee.