Lanterns ushering in the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Ox are hung at a temporary housing area for those who lost their homes in the May 12 earthquake in Mianzhu, Sichuan province January 7, 2009. Red decorations are customarily used by the Chinese to usher in the Spring Festival, or the start of Chinese Lunar New Year, which begins on January 26 this year.

　　People return their temporary home with groceries at a housing area for May 12 earthquake survivors in Dujiangyan, southwest China’s Sichuan province January 6, 2009.

　　A man hangs preserved hams to the roof beam of his house in preparation for the Chinese Lunar New Year in Yong’an town, Beichuan county, a hard-hit area by the May 12 earthquake in Southwest China’s Sichuan province, January 6, 2009.

　　A man hangs preserved hams to the roof beam of his house in preparation for the Chinese Lunar New Year in Yong’an town, Beichuan county, a hard-hit area by the May 12 earthquake in Southwest China’s Sichuan province, January 6, 2009.

　　A woman hangs a red ribbon on the doorway of her newly built house in Yong’an twon, Beichuan county, southwest China’s Sichuan province January 6, 2009.
　　Lanterns ushering in the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Ox are hung at a temporary housing area for those who lost their homes in the May 12 earthquake in Mianzhu, Sichuan province January 7, 2009. Red decorations are customarily used by the Chinese to usher in the Spring Festival, or the start of Chinese Lunar New Year, which begins on January 26 this year.