As in much of the rest of the western world, Christmas decorations started appearing in Beijing several weeks ago. Chinese website huanqiu.com reports the Christmas spirit in China is growing stronger every year, gaining ground on the traditional Chinese Spring Festival.

Recent media reports claim that China's younger generation increasingly looks forward to Christmas, and that, as a result, anticipation for the Spring Festival is somewhat more subdued.

Huanqiu conducted a poll asking Chinese net users if they thought Christmas net users can steal the spotlight from the Spring Festival. Just 20 percent said yes, while 80 percent said no.

Lunar New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. And for many Chinese, it's the only chance to go back home to stay with their parents. But going home does not always make them feel excited.

Here are our poll questions: What are you most afraid of during Spring Festival holiday?
Having little money and being asked by people 56%
Being single and being forced to get married 15%
Can't get tickets 16%
Not afraid of anything 13%

A traditional art form originating from the Shaanxi area, which is popular all over China, especially during the Spring Festival, and is ideal for a souvenir.

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Across the world at this time of year people make resolutions and start thinking about what the year ahead might have in store for them and their families.

Here in China the main celebration's for the New Year – Chinese Lunar New Year or The Spring Festival– are still some way off – you'll have to wait until February 14th for that. But even so, New Year's Day is a public holiday in China and marks the official beginning of 2010.

So this weekend we went out and asked ordinary Chinese people: what are your hopes for 2010? Here's what they had to say - in today's Straight from the Street.

As Spring Festival approaches, ticketing offices and transport companies are gearing up for their annual boom. And with record numbers of Chinese planning their annual trip back home to see family and friends, buying those all important tickets is no easy matter.

But, as BON’s Tom Mackenzie now reports, a new initiative aims to make the chore a little easier this time round.

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