During the Chinese New Year, tradition dictates that we got to the Miao Hui, highly colorful and popular fairs that take place at the major parks and temples of Beijing.

On the first day of the Spring Festival, this year, February 7^th, Beijing wakes up to streets littered with firecrackers and rockets. Everyone in Beijing heads down to the major parks and temples in the capital to enjoy the fairs or MiaoHui.

The MiaoHui are a millennial tradition typical to Beijing. Starting in the 11^th century, groups of merchants would gather around Buddhist and Taoist temples during festivals. Called "Spring Outings" at the time, these gatherings quickly became annual gatherings and reached their peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) and at the founding of the People's Republic (1911-1949). The number of booths have since increased, bringing folkloric  products, candy and entertainment.

Beijing has more than a dozen fairs, the largest of which is the Ditan Park, in the north of the city. But for most of the locals, the most popular and typical fair is that of Changdian, in Liulichang, in south of the capital. You can find the Changdian fair perpendicular to Liulichang, the street famous for its old calligraphy, tea and antiques stores.

Changdian is an alley full of contrasts. Houses of classical Chinese architecture blend with buildings without charm and covered with tiles, while red silk lanterns hang from vulgar electric poles. Two porticos 800 meters apart, face each other, one is plastered with the Olympic colors while the other is decorated with wooden calligraphy and swallows, one of the many emblematic animals of China.