The rain held off just long enough for the "Oregon Art Beat" team to experience the magic of lantern viewing at the Lan Su Chinese Garden in downtown Portland.
"Chinese New Year is the biggest festival of the year. It's a time for family to get together," says Venus Sun, Visitor Experience Coordinator.
Each new year falls under one of the twelve signs in the Chinese zodiac, and each sign is represented by an animal. "Depends on which year you were born, you would be assigned a different zodiac animal," says Sun. Your zodiac animal could be anything from a rooster to a rabbit, a dragon to a dog.
Lantern viewing caps off Chinese New Year festivities, which include martial arts, calligraphy, tiger dances, and a dancing illuminated dragon.
Anticipation for nightfall grows at the Lan Su Chinese Garden.
Jule Gilfillan/OPB
Visitors enjoy the tradition of the lion dancers, performing during the Chinese New Year.
Tom Shrider/OPB
The Scholar's Garden at Lan Su Chinese Garden, an intimate area created for reflection and retreat from the outside world.
Jule Gilfillan/OPB
A wishing tree at Lan Su Chinese Garden decorated with wishes for “happiness, prosperity and long life.”
Jule Gilfillan/OPB
Oregon Art Beat producer Jule Gilfillan enjoys the festivities at the Lan Su Chinese Garden New Year’s lantern festival.
Jessica Martin/OPB
Hanging red lanterns illuminate a courtyard at Lan Su Chinese Garden.
Jule Gilfillan/OPB
Lan Su Chinese Garden lights up at dusk during the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Jessica Martin/OPB
Lan Su's 20-foot dragon illuminates the lake during the lantern festival.
Tom Shrider/OPB
One of the many views of the Chinese New Year’s festivities at Lan Su Chinese Garden.
Jessica Martin/OPB