China ready for Lantern Festival(中国为元宵节作好准备）

In China, the upcoming celebration after Spring Festival is the Lantern Festival which is just over a week away celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month. The whole country is preparing to light up, with lanterns of all shapes and sizes.
在中国，春节之后迎来的节日庆典是元宵佳节，即恰好一周后在阴历一月的第十五天举行的节日庆典。全国已经准备好了各式各样的灯笼，只等点灯庆祝。


Not surprisingly in the year of the Tiger, tiger shaped lanterns are the most sought after at the market in eastern China's Nanjing city.
毫无疑问地在虎年当中，在中国东部的南京，老虎样式的灯笼是在市场上寻找到最多的灯笼。

Prices range from 10 to 500 yuan, depending on the design and size.
根据设计以及尺寸的不同，灯笼的价格在10到500元不等。

It takes around 6-hours to make the framework for a tiger, using iron wires.
使用钢丝构造一个老虎灯笼的框架需要大约6个小时。

Other popular designs are the traditional symbols for prosperity and luck.
其他一些受欢迎的设计都是一些传统标志，这些标志象征着幸福和好运。

On the night of the first full moon of the lunar new year, it's a tradition for people to walk carrying lanterns often shaped like the zodiac animal of that lunar year.
在阴历新年的第一个满月的晚上，传统上，人们通常会拿着象征当年生肖形状的灯笼外出散步。

Decorative lanterns representing different themes, adorn the Tazishan Park in Chengdu city. These works of art embrace folklore and history, and express elements of ancient wisdom.
不同的装饰灯笼象征着不同的主题，比如装饰在成都塔子山公园的灯笼，这些艺术作品包含了明间传说和历史故事，也表达出了许多古代知识的要素。

The highlight is a "sugar lantern" which features a picture of pied magpies and a plum tree. According to organizers, 500 kilograms of sugar has been used to make the lantern.
最精彩的当属“糖果灯笼”，它勾勒出了一幅喜鹊与李子树的图画。据组织者透露，当时动用了500公斤的糖来制造这个灯笼。

Last year 800,000 people witnessed the pageantry.
去年，有接近80万的群众见证了这一壮观的盛典。

The Lantern Festival marks the end of 15-days of celebration, over Spring Festival. After the break, it's time to make a fresh start in the new year.
元宵节标志着十五天庆典的尾声。结束春节，休息过后，是该开始崭新的一年了。

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http://english.cctv.com/program/cctvnews/20100221/101019.shtml