China prepares for Chinese New Year

Shanghai

RICH or poor, young or old, China's 1.3 billion are about to embark on the biggest movement of people in the world to celebrate Chinese New Year on Feb 19 with family and friends.

Factories will be shut, schools deserted, government offices closed. Cash-stuffed red envelopes will be handed out by bosses to employees, parents to children, and elders to the young.