Chinese people are preparing to say good-bye to the Year of the Rabbit and welcome the Year of the Dragon. It's considered particularly lucky to be born in a Dragon year - so for a lot of parents-to-be, it's going to be an exciting 2012.
Spring Festival is coming. Like many Chinese couples, Li Jie and her husband are shopping for what many consider as the most important festival of the year. However, this year her shopping list is very different from the past because their baby is due in 4 months, and the child will be born in the Year of the Dragon. Li Jie is already picturing what her baby will look like.
Li Jie said, "This little dragon must be a naughty one. He’s playing with his own tail."
The dragon is considered an auspicious animal in Chinese culture. In ancient times, people believed that a child born in a Dragon Year would be blessed with fortune and power. And the dragon still holds a certain fascination nowadays. Li Jie and her husband are full of excitement and anticipation.
Li Jie said, "We have been thinking of a name for the child. We’ve even thought of English names. We will call him Allen if he is a boy and Emily for a girl. My biggest wish is that my baby will be a happy and healthy child. "
But having a baby is not the matter of one single family. The "dragon" baby rush is putting a lot of pressure on the hospitals.
Han Shuxia, head nurse of Shi Ji Tan Hospital, said, "Soon it will be the Year of the Dragon. We're receiving many more expectant mothers than before. They all hope for a healthy dragon baby. Our hospital will do everything we can to take care of every mother."
In fact, people find good characteristics not only in the dragon, but also in all 12 animals symbolizing each Chinese zodiac. They all represent people's wish for a prosperous new year. For the parents, their greatest hope is that every child can grow up with love and happiness.

中國人民正準備告別兔年,迎接即將到來的龍年。對于龍年,很多父母認為生一個龍寶寶會給孩子帶來好運,因此這將是一個激動人心的2012年。
春節即將來臨。就像許多夫婦一樣,李杰和她的丈夫正在為這個傳統佳節購買年貨。然而,今年她的購物單卻不同以往,因為他們的孩子已經有四個月了,孩子將會在龍年出生。李杰勾畫著自己孩子的樣貌。
李杰說道:“這只小龍肯定是最淘氣的一個。他是在玩自己的尾巴。”