Las Vegas is rapidly becoming a multi-cultural city with influences from the Far East quickly becoming the predominant force.

The Chinese calendar is quite different from that used in America and most of the rest of the world and because of that the Chinese New Year falls after the first of the year and the celebration extends for weeks.

This year Chinese New Year begins on February 7 and 2008 is the Year of the Rat.

There will be special decorations and menus featuring the best of Chinese food at most of The Las Vegas Strip casinos. I took the photo above last year at the Conservatory in The bellagio hotel and Casino which will again house a huge exhibit for Chinese New Year.

Here is more detailed information about The Chinese New Year.

This is a report by a couple who took in an early Chinese New Year event is a link to a page on the World Wide Web.

The restaurant chain "Panda Express" is getting into the spirit of Chinese New Year with some giveaways to school children.

Come on over to Las Vegas and experience this colorful and interesting time of year while trying your luck in the casinos.

Image Source:www.jimippolito.com