Red lanterns on the walls, red scrolls on the doors, red packets in the children’s pockets—everything in Pingdingshan has fallen into a “red sea” in which the locals are welcoming the most vital festival in China-- Chinese New Year, or, as it is known in China, “Spring Festival.”

If China has a favorite color, that color is red. In Chinese culture, red is considered to express joy and good luck, which is why it commonly adorns Chinese people’s houses, cars and other belongings. In Pingdingshan, to celebrate the year of the rabbit, locals still follow traditional customs like hanging red lanterns outside, decorating buildings with red ornaments, and pasting red scrolls on the walls, hoping the coming year will be full of joy and good luck. Here are some snapshots of how the Pingdingshan-ers are celebrating the New Year:

At the shopping mall: The shoppers have hung red lanterns outside and inside the malls, which has attracted many consumers.

In the street: Two girls wander through the streets, where red lanterns and other decorations are hanging outside.