“Gongxi” which sounds like gong shi, means congratulations. This can be said for many occasions, from Chinese New Year to birthdays, promotions, weddings. The Chinese New Year is not a single night like the Gregorian calendar, but rather an ongoing festival that lasts 15 days, starting from the new moon to the first full moon of the year. If you are traveling to China, many stores, banks, and government offices are closed during the first week of this period. The new year is based on the lunar calendar, which means that the date varies slightly from year to year and falling somewhere after January 21 before February 20. The Lantern Festival marks the end of the 15 days of festivities.
