For the first day of the Chinese New Year, we’re showing the southern fortification of the Xi"an City Wall as it was decorated and lit up for last year"s lunar new year party. The south gate was rebuilt in 2014 and is often used to stage the fireworks show that rings in the Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and early February. Why a different new year celebration date? It comes down to the sun versus the moon: While the widely used Gregorian calendar is based on the Earth"s rotation around the sun, the lunar calendar is marked by the phases of the moon. So, the Gregorian new year always falls on January 1, while the lunar new year date moves around from year to year. Either way, we"re excited to have another excuse to throw a party.
Happy New Year! (Again!)
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Tough turf
-
There once was a lighthouse from...
-
Happy New Year! (Again!)
-
Meet our fuzzy Earth Day mascot
-
Crown Fountain by Jume Plensa at Millennium Park in Chicago
-
In the Supertree Grove
-
Keep your hands inside the ride at all times…
-
Don’t look down
-
A ‘Superior’ paddle
-
A Carpathian Christmas celebration
-
Let the holiday shopping commence
-
It s Independence Day
-
Let s crack the code
-
‘The mountains are calling’
-
When in Rome...celebrate Saturnalia
-
Sweet! It’s maple syrup season
-
With leaves this tasty, who cares about a view?
-
Honoring the fallen
-
Reflections on the mighty Amazon
-
You won’t see this on Mulberry Street