Chinese shop for traditional holiday food in Beijing

Chinese shop for traditional holiday food on sale at a market ahead of China's Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival and the country's main national holiday, in Beijing on January 26, 2014. Chinese are hugely symbolic when it comes to celebrating national holidays, with the Spring Festival akin to Thanksgiving when it comes to eating mass quantities of food with family and friends. But with rising food prices and inflation, it is predicted this year will see a sharp decline in lavish banquets and overall food purchases. UPI/Stephen Shaver..Rising food prices may be ChinaÕs biggest challenge this year, driving inflation to heights that havenÕt been seen in more than two years and threatening social stability by angering millions of ordinary Chinese.