Do you know the date that the Spring Festival falls on in the 2013 Gregorian calendar and which animal represents 2013 in China? Do you want to share your story about Chinese culture with global web users?

The 2013 global "Happy Chinese New Year" online quiz and essay contest is now open. We look forward to your participation! You can show off your knowledge about China and share your China stories, learn interesting things, and have the opportunity to win a special prize.

The activity is sponsored by the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Chinese Ministry of Culture, and is available on Chinaculture.org. As an important part of the "Happy Chinese New Year" branding initiative being undertaken by the Ministry of Culture, it will be the most authoritative online interactive activity about the Chinese Spring Festival in 2013.

Participants can take part in the online quiz or essay contest, or both. The competition will run until the end of April 2013.

The online quiz is presented in English and Spanish but participants can use any language for the essay contest.

The top 100 scorers will receive prizes. If more than 100 people get the perfect score, there will be a drawing. 20 winners and more participation award winners will be selected from the essay contest. The results will be announced in late May 2013 on Chinaculture.org, and prizes will be sent to the winners.

If you care about Chinese culture, please pay close attention to the "Happy Chinese New Year" online activities on:

http://www.chinaculture.org/focus/node_50008959.htm (English version)

http://www.chinaculture.org/focus/node_50008960.htm (Spanish version)