We are the Hudsons: 2017 in China....The Year of the Rooster!

I Love You Apples, Oil, Oil, Oil, gifts with purchase and Chinese Outfits!!!

As we celebrated the New Year and rung in 2017......in China they are still awaiting their New Year. The lunar calendar has the New Year being January 27th this year. This is a time in China for lots of decorations, time off work, time with family and traditional foods. Everywhere you look now there are red paper cut outs hanging, Roosters signs and red lanterns, it is their Christmas as far as decorations go! Last year we were in Shanghai for the holiday and it was very quiet, the reason being most people return to their hometowns for this holiday and spend time with family. Shanghai is a new and big city so most people there travel to other places for this special time. We are going to try and visit Shanghai Disneyland again since Brian only has a little time off work and we are going to Thailand in February, we will let you know how the crowds are there (and they have a dragon in their parade for the holiday so I'll take lots of photos!).

Since many businesses here are small or family owned, including restaurants and shops there is a lot of things closed during the holidays so we aren't sure what to expect here in our "small" town over the days that the schools are closed and Brian's company is closed. Each company usually has a large lunch or dinner celebration for the holiday as well so Brian will be attending that this weekend for his company. Blake and Grace have been learning a Chinese song at school and they will be performing for us on Thursday in Chinese outfits!

Here are some of the photos I have captured wandering around our city before this big holiday! Red represents good fortune in China!

Chinese Lanterns

Come and get your Rooster!

Giving money(Hong pao) to children for the holiday in red envelopes is very common.

Decorations for outside your home

Even Zootopia got in on the decorations!

Paper cut signs

Gift boxes of oil.

Large boxes of fruit to give

Decorations outside the mall

The Year of the Rooster

The Hong Pao Tree in the Marriott Hotel

The Giant Rooster at the Dinosaur Park!

McDonald's is participating in the fun too!

Special gifts when you spend over 199Yuan

Hello Kitty is all dressed up on these CNY gift cards

Besides the Chinese New Year (CNY) here is what I have been seeing around and taking my photos of to share with you all....

Family fun at the new Uptown Alley Bowling facility! Blake got 3 strikes!!!

Some random fun in Shanghai! Meat Delivery Truck and a 3D movie!

Starbucks specials, the super thin extra bed in our hotel room , and hand muffs from McDonalds.

The cool walkway near our house.....fresh Strawberries are heaven here, Christmas Merry outside our building and some bizarre foods at Burger King!

Super cool digital vending machines!

This one I was able to pay with my Wechat app without having any cash! It did say HOT not COLD on the machine though and Brian's Coke came out warm for sure...ewww!

And unfortunately this week we have to say goodbye to some other good friends we have made here in China, our Chilean friends will be returning home after two years here with us.....we will miss you!!! Until we meet again my friend.....