Now we look at the dinner table during the Chinese Lunar New Year. Food is always one of the highlights of any holiday. There's turkey at Thanksgiving, chocolates at Easter but what do the Chinese eat during the Spring Festival?

They are the earliest of early birds.

Chinese house wives are up even before the crack of dawn to get the best ingredients for their New Year's feast.

It has to look good, taste fresh and of course the price must be right.

"This is what the morning is for, just to stuff your refrigerator like this... And it is just the beginning."

A typical Chinese New Year feast has a very long menu, including at least a dozen dishes.

The foods are all about symbols, which reflect prosperity, good luck and health.

A whole fish or a whole chicken is a nod to togetherness and abundance.

Sixi Meatballs, four oversized balls of pork, represent four seasons and are expected to bring good luck for the coming year.

And Jiaozi is a must for any Chinese New Year feast.

The crescent-shaped dumplings represent wealth and prosperity because of their resemblance to ancient Chinese money, gold ingots.

To get all these things ready on the table, it takes a whole day's work.

From washing and cutting to cooking, every step is taken with great care.

Not surprisingly, some of them have rejected this option, choosing instead to dine out.

To entice eaters in the ever-competitive holiday season, Chinese restaurants have been trying everything.

This theory is put to work by every cook in the restaurant, with each dish a fusion of color, aroma and flavor.

And it's time for dinner.

"By coming here, I don't have all the hassles of a New Year dinner at home. It's a big relief. I like the food here and also the atmosphere."

"I think it's the trend for people to dine out during New Year. It's a sign of our rising standard of living."

This family have been dining out for New Year for several years and have tried all dishes on the menu.

But when asked to compare the restaurant's cooking with her mother's, there was a clear winner for this little girl, "I still prefer my Mom's cooking." she said.

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