Tourists walk past red lanterns, which are about to be hung up, at Qianmen Avenue in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 15, 2011. A carnival began at the avenue Tuesday, including lantern show, dragon dances, Peking Opera performances, to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival which falls on Feb. 17, 2011. [Xinhua/Zhao Bing]

A traditional lantern show opened in a busy commercial street in the heart of Beijing Tuesday, two days before the Lantern Festival, one of the most important Chinese holidays.

The show on Qianmen Street, near Tian'anmen Square, features more than 1,000 lanterns and artistic performances, including dragon dances, acrobatics, operas and dramas recreating imperial parades and ancient marketplaces.

It will last until Thursday, the 15th day of the first lunar month, when the Chinese light lanterns, read riddles and eat sweet rice dumplings to celebrate.

Celebrations at the lantern show will reach a climax at 6 p.m. Thursday, when all the lanterns will be lit and huge crowds of visitors are expected to attend the carnival, which runs till midnight.

City authorities have warned of risks of fire on the festive night.

The Lantern Festival is considered the official end of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday.