元宵节 (Lantern Festival)

The 15th and last day of the Chinese New Year is a holiday called 元宵节 (Yuánxiāojié) or Lantern Festival. Although I did see a couple lanterns, the day seems to be an excuse to hold a nation-wide fireworks show. Last year I was sick and didn't do anything to celebrate, but this year I decided to join the fun.

The day started at 7:30 am, when big loud firecrackers were being lit off in my apartment complex courtyard, the sound echoing off the cement walls. Later, when investigating strange sounds coming from the window, I discovered that the shells of fireworks were hitting the window all the way up on the 23rd floor!

That evening, a bunch of friends and I ventured out to a big intersection near home. Every corner had a fireworks stand...

People crowded the stands, bargaining for their prize fireworks, while others stood around watching the sky being lit up and sounding like a war zone.

Friends lighting the dynamite stick - pretty sure these would not be legal in the States, but can be found on any street corner for 20 rmb (about $3 U.S)!

Sean decided to go for bigger and better, so after bargaining a little with this vendor he purchased this bad boy for around $50. Not bad for 50 big shells!

carrying it to the middle of the intersection, where they plan to light it off...



and it begins!

There were small children and cars passing by constantly, but neither seemed to be phased at all by the sound or sight of the explosions.
Here kid, wanna light off a stick of dynamite?
looking down from my window that night -I've never seen fireworks from above!