Fireworks in Beijing to mark coming of New Year of the Dragon

SHOTLIST 1. Wide of fireworks shop 2. Wide of people buying fireworks 3. Mid of people buying fireworks 4. Mid of staff packing up bags of fireworks for customers 5. Wide of people leaving the shop 6. Mid of two children, Shen Qi and Zhang Kehao, buying fireworks 7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Zhang Kehao, six and a half years old: "I hope I'm given lots of red envelopes." 8. Mid of Shen Qi and Zhang Kehao with their families 9. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Shen Qi, nine and a half years old: "This year is the dragon year. I hope I'm given lots of red envelopes." 10. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Shaofeng, 35 year old, buying fireworks for the new year: "I'm hoping for fortune and lots of good luck in the next year. It's traditional during the Spring Festival to light fireworks, and my kids are at home, so I'm buying fireworks to make them happy." 11. Mid of Wang pulling away on electric bike 12. Wide of firecrackers exploding 13. Mid of Beijing resident Li Yang holding firecracker 14. Mid of Li Yang's father and baby son 15. Wide of Li holding firecracker near his father and child 16. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Li Yang, Beijing resident: "I hope my son will grow up to be a cute kid, and I wish all my family best wishes for the new year. Happy New Year!" 17. Close of lit firework 18. Wide of fireworks exploding in the street STORYLINE Firecrackers were lit across Beijing on Sunday as the countdown to the Chinese Year of the Dragon began. The Lunar New Year of the Dragon begins at midnight on Sunday. At one shop in central Beijing, crowds of shoppers gathered to buy fireworks, which are traditionally bought on New Year's Eve to ward off evil spirits. The Lunar New Year signifies a time when families gather to eat dumplings, and set off firecrackers. Children are given red envelopes containing money during the Lunar New Year holiday. Nine year old Shen Qi said she was hoping for lots of red envelopes - or money - in the Year of the Dragon, which traditionally is a symbol of good fortune. Grownups were also hoping for the same. Three generations of the Li family were out braving the cold in the capital, enjoying the festivities. "I hope my son will grow up to be a cute kid, and I wish all my family best wishes for the new year," said Li Yang, as his father and baby stood nearby. The fireworks are expected to peak at midnight (1600 GMT) on Sunday, and continue for the next week. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/a11721f13811962469f9a418a90f7954 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork