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This year the Tibetan New Year falls on February 14, the same day as the Chinese New Year, which isn't always the case. Although it's still two weeks away, celebrations are already underway for the province's largest festival of the year.

The streets of Lhasa are buzzing with celebration as Tibetans prepare to see in their traditional new year. Taking part in an annual religious ceremony, pilgrims flocked to the Jokhang Temple to burn incense and take down last year's prayer flags. The coming new year means they will be replaced with new prayer flags, which have wishes for the new year written on them.

A monk from the temple says the ceremony holds special significance for Buddhist believers.

Ancius introduces the Chinese characters for “year”, and “to be born in the year of”.

Now is the time of the Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year that is celebrated around the world and usually involves a lot of Chinese culture.  The Lunar New Year day marks the start of what is known in China and around Asia as the Spring Festival.  A big part of the Spring Festival is giving food, gifts and money to your family and friends. 

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At least five workers have died and another 10 were injured in an explosion at a fireworks factory in northern China. According to reports, the factory was illegally manufacturing fireworks ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday.

The blast happened early on Wednesday in Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia. It's thought the factory was operating without a license and had been selling illegally manufactured fireworks for the Chinese New Year holiday, which falls this year on February 14th.

State media says police are still looking for the owner of the factory, who fled after the explosion. Reports say there are currently three factories in Hohhot that operate with a license but the others are all illegal.