Stride into Year of Ox with hope for change

We're two days away from what we the Chinese call nian, Spring Festival.

People from various ethnicities in different parts of the country celebrate the festival in their own different ways. But the point of the celebrations is the same for everyone - change.

That's why people in many parts of the country traditionally believe they must stay up until midnight on the eve of the Lunar New Year and watch the very last minute of the passing year slip away from their grip.