At a local bazaar in Baotou city, in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, people buy red lanterns, couplets and nuts on Jan 27 to prepare for the upcoming Spring Festival, which is China's most important holiday. [Photo/Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone]

People carefully select couplets at the bazaar. The couplets, or chunlians, are one of the most important customs used to celebrate Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival. The couplets consist of two paper scrolls, inscribed with lines of poetry or auspicious sayings, pasted vertically on both sides of a door. [Photo/Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone]

Locals shop for the upcoming Chinese New Year in a supermarket in Baotou. [Photo/Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone]

Vivid decorations are set up all around Baotou, creating a festive mood. [Photo/Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone]

A decoration highlighting the Chinese character fu, which means happiness and luck. [Photo/Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone]