Chinese New Year 2009

Two years on from our first Chinese new year's eve. Then we stood, in a sea of people, partying on Joe's balcony on the 30th floor of Embassy House - thousands of fireworks exploding all across Beijing. This week we stood on the same balcony - but, unfortunately, the apartment was empty since Joe and his family had moved out a few months ago.

Watching the fireworks was as intense and exciting as that first time, two years ago. It's hard to explain what it's like. The fireworks start early in the day and build up to a crescendo - from around 11pm to 1am it's non-stop. There is nothing quite like it. I've seen spectacular fireworks displays in the past - they have all been beautifully organised, immaculately planned, wonderfully co-ordinated and executed. But not in Beijing. Beijing on new year's eve is wild, out of control and completely un-coordinated. Thousands of individuals all over the city go out and buy fireworks from street-corner tents set up specially for the holiday and then let them off where ever they feel like. In the middle of the road as cars drive past; on the pavement as people walk past. It's a war zone. It's the Blitz but more colourful.
Street-corner fireworks stand, ringed with fire extinguishers, and boxes of explosives stacked high

Across the street from our building is 'Water World' - Hua Yi Tian Lun Shui Shi - a bath house/massage/spa place. The staff had been setting off fireworks in front of the building on and off all day but around 10.30pm they brought out dozens of big rocket boxes, put them on the middle divider and let them all off. Take a look.