Chinese new year: country welcomes Year of the Dragon Chinese households set off fireworks on the eve of the New Year in order to drive away evil spirits. In Shanghai, the fireworks began some five hours before midnight, building to a crescendo that carpeted the city with light and noise at midnight. While the outgoing Year of the Rabbit was a year of relative calm for China, Dragon years are greeted with some trepidation and generally thought to be exciting but unpredictable. Anthony Cheng, a Chinese astrologer in Hong Kong, said the world economy would continue to be depressed. "In the second half of the year, a scandalous corruption case will be exposed in China," he added. I can also predict that in Hong Kong and in mainland China, a number of high-ranking officials will be forced to step down. Some may be thrown behind bars, or even pass away. As China entered its week of New Year holidays, blizzards swept through Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hubei provinces, while a light dusting of snow even fell in Shanghai. In the far Western region of Xinjiang, more than 400 travellers had to be rescued after their cars were trapped in a sudden snowstorm. Chinese workers traditionally return to their home towns to celebrate the New Year and the country shuts down so extensively that the State Grid forecasted a 40 per cent drop in electricity consumption for the upcoming week, with most factories idle.