A salesperson wears a tiger-shaped balloon on sale at a Lunar New Year market in Hong Kong February 9, 2010, five days before the celebration of the Chinese Year of the Tiger on February 14. [Photo/Agencies]

A performer from the China National Acrobatic Troupe takes part in the 2010 Valletta Chinese Spring Festival in Valletta February 9, 2010. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Year of the Tiger begins on February 14, 2010.[Photo/Agencies]

Chinese firemen cool themselves with water as they try to put out a forest fire in Shilin, Yunnan Province, February 9, 2010. [Photo/CFP]