New Year in the museum

"It is just like an indoor temple fair," says Fang Lihong, a middle-aged local visitor. "The Spring Festival atmosphere has arrived early at this museum."

The exhibition halls in the Capital Museum are decorated in the style of traditional New Year festive scenes. Two exhibitions themed on this year's zodiac animal, the Ox, have opened this week and will run until the Lantern Festival on Feb 10.

"For the first time, admission is free and booking aren't necessary during the Spring Festival," says Yao An, deputy director of the museum. "Staff will be on hand to supervise in case there are too many visitors inside."