Chinese New Year is going to be celebrated around the world starting on Saturday, February 13 - which is the New Year's Eve - and ending on Sunday the 28th with the Lantern Festival. This time of year is the most important in Chinese tradition. Lavish parties with family and friends will be held, red colour paper-cuts and couplets with themes of "happiness, wealth and longevity" will decorate windows and doors, and hong bao (red envelopes) will be given.

It is absolutely a fascinating time when so many people around the globe will travel near or far to meet up with their loved ones. That in itself means that businesses will be closed, or at least cut to a minimum from Sunday, February 14th to Tuesday 16th. In Taiwan, shops are likely to reopen on Wednesday 17th and offices will resume work on Monday 22nd. To make sure, please check opening hours with the individual venue before you make any plans to visit them.

Traveling might be a hassle if you haven't got your ticket yet or plan to travel by car or bus. According to tradition, the second day of the Chinese New Year is when the wife's family is visited. This is expected to create a lot of road congestion and public means of transportation will be crowded. If possible, avoid traveling on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th.

To find out all about festive activities around the island, please look up the place you wish to visit and find out more inside our magazine. Remember you will have endless shopping of traditional decorations and food in the most incredible amounts. For more information on where to go in Taipei, please find our shopping section on page 32.

This year, it so happens that Valentine's Day (Sunday, February 14th) falls on the first day of the Lunar New Year, what a coincidence! We all have something to celebrate and what is better than having a nice meal in one of the very good restaurants Taiwan has to offer? On page 22, you'll find a choice of suggested restaurants and bars for Taipei.

Happy Year of the Tiger.

Louise Byström
Editor-in-Chief