bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Xinhua

Even though the Chinese Lunar New Year is still a month away, people are already going ape for the Year of the Monkey.
The Chinese lunar calendar assigns an animal symbol to each year in a 12-year cycle. According to the zodiac, 2016 is the Year of the Monkey.
On Wednesday night, Tian Meng, 62, anxiously stayed up until midnight in order to make online reservation of a set of commemorative coins issued by the central bank for the Year of the Monkey.
“I usually go to sleep very early at night, but I want to get the coins,” explained the retiree from Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province.

The People's Bank of China issues the coins on Jan. 16 and began taking pre-orders at midnight on Thursday. By Thursday morning, all the coins were reserved.
The Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, falls on Feb. 8 this year, ending the Year of the Sheep.
The monkey comes ninth in the 12-animal rotation, following the sheep and preceding the rooster. Others in the zodiac include rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, dog and pig.
According to the zodiac, people born during the Year of the Monkey are thought to be smart, lively and playful.
Chinese stores, offices, homes and cars will be decorated with zodiac-themed trinkets weeks before the lunar new year, offering a boom for businesses across the country.
READ MORE: Hong Kong soccer tournament Lunar New Year Cup likely to be scrapped
In Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, the world's largest wholesale market for small consumer goods has entered the high season. At the Festival Commodities Market, wholesale dealers can be seen hawking monkey-themed paintings, scrolls with traditional couplets, toys and lucky charms.
“Besides Chinese customers, there are also many foreign clients,” said Liu Qing, a wholesale dealer purchasing products at the market.
 The scene is similar in the nearby city of Jinhua, where businesses are busy introducing their latest monkey products to customers.
“This year's major products are lucky paper with the Chinese character 'Fu' (happiness) and couplets on scrolls,” a businesswoman surnamed Lu said as she showed the products to a customer in Jinhua's Dongyang Mall. “Gold ingots with monkey images are also very popular.”
Even foreign businesses are cashing in on the fervor, adding primates to imported watches, chocolates and charm bracelets found on e-commerce site Taobao.com
Meanwhile, a trailer for the film “Monkey King 2” starring Hong Kong actor Louis Koo has just been released. The sequel to one of China's most successful domestic films will be released on the first day of Spring Festival, Feb. 8.
READ MORE: Tens of thousands flock to Hong Kong’s annual Lunar New Year night parade
Enthusiasm for monkey products shows the Chinese people's excitement for the country's biggest holiday, which is generally celebrated with family reunions and is a time of happiness, courage and hope, said Wang Kaiyu, a researcher at the Anhui Academy of Social Sciences.
Zhou Hua, a kindergarten teacher from Hefei, has just finished embroidering a monkey for her daughter.
“My daughter was born in the Year of the Monkey, and this is my gift for her for the lunar year,” Zhou said. “I hope she will be as happy and lively as a monkey.” 


‘Only a 0.1% chance’: elderly Chinese look for love at Shenzhen’s matchmaking corner

China’s marriage rebound: will more 2025 knots bring more baby bumps in 2026?

A loneliness crisis is the price China is paying for rapid modernisation

How old is Chinese civilisation? It really dates back 8,000 years, an archaeologist argues

China society

Going ape for monkeys: Lunar New Year themed coins and stamps a boom for businesses in China

(160105) -- YIWU, Jan. 5, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Monkey dolls and decorations for the Year of Monkey are on sale at Yiwu International Trading Mall, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 2, 2016. The Chinese Year of Monkey will begin on Feb. 8 this year. Yiwu's wholesale markets are busy in the selling season for Chinese Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Tan Jin) (wf)

(160105) -- YIWU, Jan. 5, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Decorations for the Year of Monkey are on sale at Yiwu International Trading Mall, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 2, 2016. The Chinese Year of Monkey will begin on Feb. 8 this year. Yiwu's wholesale markets are busy in the selling season for Chinese Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Tan Jin) (wf)

(160105) -- ZHENGZHOU, Jan. 5, 2016 (Xinhua) -- A customer shows a set of Bingshen Year special stamps for the Year of Monkey at a post office in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Jan. 5, 2016. China Post on Tuesday officially issued the Lunar New Year special stamp, which has a face value of 1.2 yuan (about 18 U.S. cents). The Chinese Year of Monkey, or the lunar Bingshen Year, will begin on Feb. 8 this year. (Xinhua/Li Bo) (wf)

Monkey dolls and decorations for the Year of Monkey are already being snapped up as people prepare for the Chinese Year of Monkey on Feb. 8 this year. Photo: Xinhua

No takers: Lunar New Year Cup likely to be scrapped

Ronaldinho Gaucho of the Brazil Team in action with HK player during 2005 Carlsberg Cup Hong Kong VS Brazil which held on February 9, 2005 at Hong Kong Stadium, Causeway Bay.

Ronaldinho played in the Lunar New Year Cup in 2005 as part of the Brazil national team. Photo: SCMP Picture

Tens of thousands flock to Hong Kong’s annual Lunar New Year night parade  

Crowds flock to watch the entertainment on Canton Road. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Performers parade down Canton Road. Photo: SCMP Pictures

It's the year of the sheep to this man. Photo: SCMP Pictures

A dancing troupe on Canton Road. Photo: SCMP Pictures

A concert takes place on Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Crowds gather to receive cake vouchers near the Star Ferry. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Going ape for monkeys: Lunar New Year themed coins and stamps a boom for businesses in China

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The Year of the Monkey will begin February 8

The Year of the Monkey will begin February 8