Sailors wind down with festive family holiday

Qingdao welcomed sailors of the 2009-10 Clipper Round the World Yacht race with New Year's celebrations and an invitation to spend time staying with local families over the Lantern Festival.

The race started on the Sept 13 and teams will sail a total of 35,000 nautical miles around the world, stopping at various locations along the way and end back in England in July.

Sailors were met with fireworks, dragon dances, and loud cheers from the crowds when they arrived into the port of Qingdao.