Just when you thought the long lasting holiday celebrations were coming to an end, yet another extravaganza is upon us: the Lantern Festival.

Spring festival activities last about a week in China, but traditionally they stretch some 15 days, the final day of which is the Lantern Festival, when families illuminate their homes and light fireworks.

Preparations are being made at various public sites in the city for the big day, also known as Yuanxiao Festival, which falls on Thursday this year.

From that evening through the next morning, Yuyuan Garden will be one of many public places offering festival-related shows and activities. The park, however, will only be open to ticket-holders.

This year there will be a limit on the number of people allowed in the park as a safety precaution, according to Jiang Qingqing, a park official.

This marks the 10th year that the venue will organize holiday events. Visitors will admire ubiquitous lantern decorations and see traditional dragon dances. The park will provide guests with a lighted lotus lantern that can be used to illuminate the pebble paths on which they stroll.

Jiuqu Qiao (Bridge of Nine Turns) in the center of Yuyuan Garden is especially crowded during the holidays.

"Last year, many people remained on the park bridge through the night," said Jiang. Chinese tradition holds that one's personal problems can be worked out, or at least alleviated, by slowly wending one's way through zigzagging paths.

From one o'clock on Thursday afternoon, a four-hour street show simulating life in old Shanghai will be performed on Changle Road at Jinjiang Tower.

A variety of Lantern Festival shows will also be performed at Xintiandi, the famous tourist spot featuring shops and nice restaurants.

(Shanghai Daily February 3, 2004)