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| Lantern Festival generates sky－high demand |
| CCTV.COM 2003-02-11 10:02:50 |
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 The faces of craftsmen around the country lit up as the Lantern Festival, the 15th of the first lunar month, falls on Saturday （Feb. 15）. Local lantern markets have sparked into life as manufacturers burn the midnight oil to satisfy the demand.
There was no week－long Spring Festival vacation for 80－year old Zhou Zongrong. He can hardly afford to take even a short break at this time of year as the elder craftsman races the clock to satisfy a growing demand ahead of the Lantern Festival.
He is putting the final touches to two huge ram lanterns, which, according to Zhou, are in high demand due to the Year of the Sheep. These two ram lanterns have been ordered by a shopping mall to take the place of the stone lions at its front gate.
 Some of the festive lanterns that dot this park in Shandong province add attractive night lights to an otherwise sparsely－lit night sky. The 48 groups of festive lanterns depict episodes from classic Chinese tales, like "A Dream of Red Mansions" and "A Journey to the West". Some of China's oldest fables are lively brought back to life and light through strings of lanterns.
The pulse of lantern festival is created not just with bright lights. Drumbeats are doing their bit too. An early bird is Shandong resident, Zhang Hengjiu. He and his family are practicing their drum performances for the Festival. Proving age is no barrier, even Zhang's grandson is helping out, getting some tips from the veteran to make sure the whole family stays in time.
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Editor: Han Ling CCTV.com
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