Dragon made of 3,000 lanterns in Beijing, China

China's largest dragon lantern composed of 3,000 lanterns posted with photos of healthy babies made its debut on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at Yongdingmen Square Park in Beijing, where it stands a landmark for a campaign that promotes healthy growth of babies in the Chinese capital.

Visitors take pictures in front of a dragon-shaped lantern which has been set up for the upcoming Lunar New Year 2012 in Beijing.

Largest dragon lantern composed of 3,000 lanterns has broken the Guinness World Record as the largest lantern display.

The yellow giant dragon stands 13 meters tall and has broken the Guinness World Record as the "largest lantern display". Measuring 39.6 meters long, 11.61 meters wide and 13.25 meters high, the size of the lantern formation has surpassed the record set in Hong Kong on September 3, 2011. The dragon in the previous record measures 36.5 meters in length, 9.63 meters in width and 13.2 meters in height.

During a test run on January 9, 2012, the lanterns were tested to ensure that they light up for the beginning of the Lunar New Year celebrations which start on January 23, 2012.

200,000 chubby faces smile, awake or asleep, from each of the constituent lanterns. The photos were collected from the Internet and most of the babies on the photos age from zero to two years old.

Workers have erected a massive dragon installation comprised of over 3,000 lanterns at Yongdingmen Square Park in Beijing, China.

Visitors look at a giant dragon sculpture made out of more than 3,000 lanterns as they test the lights in the Yongdingmen Square Park in Beijing.

-cctv-

Majestic Dragon Festival 2012 at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

A majestic 600-ft long flying dragon welcomes shoppers at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur in ushering in the auspicious Year of the Dragon 2012...bask in its magnificent glory as it gracefully drapes the ceiling, 50 meters above the Dragon Festival Walk while you shop at Centre Court.

2012...Year of the Water Dragon

Astrology is one of the earliest Chinese arts, most people in the West today are familiar with its 12 animal signs and it has been influencing the lives of the Chinese centuries ago. Chinese horoscope is based upon philosophical or even mathematical conception of existence, though today it no longer plays such an important role but yet it still absorbs the interest of millions of people all over the world.

What kind of year will 2012 be? According to the Chinese zodiac, 2012 is the year of the Water Dragon. Many expect 2012 to bring about the end of the world but from a feng shui standpoint 2012, the year of the Water Dragon, brings many possibilities for good fortune. Water Dragons occur every 60 years. In 2012 the Yang Water Dragon Year starts January 23, 2012 and ends February 9, 2013. 

The Dragon is considered an auspicious creature symbolising power, strength and good luck in Chinese culture. It is the fifth sign of the Chinese Zodiac. It is a creature of myth and legend. In ancient China, the celestial Dragon represents an emperor and power. Possessing magical powers, the versatile Dragon is capable of soaring to the highest heavenly heights or diving to the depths of the sea. Today, it is the ultimate auspicious symbol signifying success and happiness.

In olden texts, the dragon is described as having the head of an ox, muzzle of a donkey, eyes of a shrimp, horns of a deer, body of a serpent covered with fish scales, and feet of a phoenix. The dragon usually clutches a pearl symbolic of its super-natural powers. Invariably accompanied by thunder and rain, dragons move like lightning and whirlwinds all powerful yet totally unpredictable....marking transition, uncertainty and change.

The 2012 Water Dragon will bestow the five blessings of harmony, virtue, riches, fulfillment and longevity. The year of the Water Dragon is widely believed to be about breakthroughs. May the celestial Dragon brings great good luck to everyone...