Countdown in Beijing

Local residents gather at The Place Square to celebrate the upcoming New Year together in Beijing, China, on Dec. 31, 2009. [Xinhua]

Local residents gather at The Place Square to celebrate the upcoming New Year together in Beijing, China, on Dec. 31, 2009. [Xinhua]

Local residents gather at The Place Square to celebrate the upcoming New Year together in Beijing, China, on Dec. 31, 2009. [Xinhua]

Illuminations in Shanghai

The neon lighting showing the 121-days countdown to the Shanghai 2010 World Expo appear on the grand commercial building at the Lujiazhui Finance and Trade Zone, in Pudong District of Shanghai, east China's metropolis, Dec. 31, 2009. A magnificent new-year eve neon illumination is shown on 18 grand edifices at Lujiazhui Zone to mark the countdown to the advent of the new year. [Xinhua]

The neon lighting showing the English word of London and its landmark architecture of Big Ben appear on the grand commercial building at the Lujiazhui Finance and Trade Zone, in Pudong new district of Shanghai, east China's metropolis, Dec. 31, 2009.[Xinhua]

Chinese and overseas audiences gather together happily to attend the 2010 Shanghai New Year Countdown Evening Gala, with the theme of Celebrate Universally and Dance on the Heaven and Earth, beside the artificial lake of the Taiping (Peace) Bridge, at the grand hall of Xintiandi in Shanghai, east China's metropolis, Dec. 31, 2009. [Xinhua]

　　Ringing New Year's bell in Beijing

Local residents ring the bell at China Centennial Altar to celebrate the New Year in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 1, 2010. [Xinhua]

Honored guests light candles before ringing the bell at China Centennial Altar in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2009. A bell tolling activity was held here on Thursday to celebrate the New Year. [Xinhua]

　　In Nanjing

Local residents ring the bell at Pilu Temple in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 31, 2009, to celebrate the New Year. [Xinhua]

　　Ringing New Year's bell at Hanshan Temple, East China

Rabbi Qiushuang, the abbot of Hanshan Temple, strikes the bell for 108 tolls uring the 31st Suzhou New Year Eve Bell Ringing &Felicity Worshipping Activity at Hanshan Temple, a major pilgrimage and tourism event with some 80,000 local citizens and visitors from both home and overseas taking part in, in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 31, 2009. [Xinhua]

People swarm onto courtyard of Hanshan Temple to partake in the 31st Suzhou New Year Eve Bell Ringing &Felicity Worshipping Activity at Hanshan Temple, a major pilgrimage and tourism event with some 80,000 local citizens and visitors from both home and overseas taking part in, in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 1, 2010. [Xinhua]

Brightening fireworks flare and scintillate over the Hanshan Temple, during the 31st Suzhou New Year Eve Bell Ringing &Felicity Worshipping Activity at Hanshan Temple, a major pilgrimage and tourism event with some 80,000 local citizens and visitors from both home and overseas taking part in, in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 1, 2010. [Xinhua]

　　Tiger latern in Nanjing, East China

Pedestrians walk past a lantern in the shape of a tiger in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 31, 2009. Over ten sets of lanterns illuminated Nanjing City on Thursday to celebrate the arrival of 2010. [Xinhua]

A tourist poses for photos beside a lantern in the shape of a cartoon tiger in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 31, 2009. Over ten sets of lanterns illuminated Nanjing City on Thursday to celebrate the arrival of 2010. [Xinhua]