Ring in Chinese New Year 2011 with MGM Resorts International

MGM Resorts International will celebrate Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, with exhilarating lion dance performances, spectacular displays at Crystals at CityCenter and Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, as well as authentic cuisine at a variety of resort restaurants. The Rabbit, the fourth animal in the Asian zodiac, is a symbol of fortune and longevity and those born in the Year of the Rabbit tend to be lucky, articulate and ambitious.

The following schedule outlines each lion dance performance to be held in the respective resorts' main valet and porte cochere:

MGM Grand - Saturday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m.
The Mirage - Saturday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m.
ARIA - Saturday, Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Bellagio - Sunday, Feb. 6 at noon

Yau Kung Moon Kung Fu Dragon & Lion Dance Association
Yau Kung Moon will perform traditional Chinese lion dances at MGM Grand, The Mirage, ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter and Bellagio. Yau Kung Moon, which translates to "Style of Flexible Power," is considered one of the best and most respected martial arts, dragon and lion dance organizations in the world with more than 3,000 members. It is a traditional Southern Shaolin Kung Fu system with more than 1,000 years of history.

In the 1960s, Yau Kung Moon was introduced to the United States by Grandmaster Ha Kwok Cheung's disciples, Grandmaster Chan Jun Chuen, Grandmaster Wong Cheung and Grandmaster Wan Tak Kee. They later passed the system onto their disciples, Master Bill Lee, Master Lok SAng Lee, Master Michael Lau and Master David Louie.

Within the lion dancing culture, Yau Kung Moon is considered one of the pioneers of Northern and Southern lion dancing (Nam Si Buk Mo) and has set an exceptionally high standard evidenced by its numerous competitions and performances. Yau Kung Moon is known for its trademark gold uniforms and innovative routines and has been recognized internationally for being the first U.S. team to compete in the 1990 Invitational World Lion Dance Festival in Malaysia. The group also has finished as the eight-time undefeated Chinese National Lion Dance Champions.

Crystals at CityCenter
Crystals at CityCenter celebrates Chinese New Year with a golden display of a graceful rabbit. Weighing 1,200 pounds, reaching more than 11 feet in height and stretching 12 feet long, this exhibit provides the perfect photo opportunity to ring in the new lunar year.

Guests will find the golden rabbit on display in the midst of Crystals' elegant flower carpet. Coated with Pharaoh's Gold paint, this intricate display was created with high-density foam and a fiberglass finish by the local Las Vegas design firm, Icon Sculpting.

Crystals at CityCenter is a magnificent gathering place that welcomes guests on a journey through couture, cuisine and entertainment on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. The unprecedented collection of renowned retailers including Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Tiffany & Co. and Ermenegildo Zegna, paired with one-of-a-kind galleries with artists such as Dale Chihuly and signature restaurants ranging from Wolfgang Puck and Todd English to celebrity restaurateur Eva Longoria redefine the traditional luxury shopping experience.

Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens usher in the Year of the Rabbit with a unique, complimentary display through March 5. This year's serene sanctuary is guided by the ancient practice of Feng Shui - the art of using surroundings to attract harmony, balance and positive life energy - and its teachings are used to position the flow of water into Bellagio's Conservatory.

The majestic centerpiece of this year's exhibit is a 35-foot Chinese Junk Boat with a 38-foot mast inspired by traditional 15th century fishing vessels. Making its debut at the Conservatory, the boat was created using teak, mahogany and cedar by Daniels Wood Land, Inc. - best known for building full-scale replicas of The Black Pearl for Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie franchise. The ancient vessel is surrounded by a zig-zag bridge, a design that follows the principles of Feng Shui, providing a difficult route for negative energy and bad spirits. The bridge leads to a striking, wing-tipped Ming Dynasty-styled gazebo.

Nearby, a 12-foot rabbit with a luxurious coat comprised of more than 4,500 live sedge plants, watches over eight babies at play within a forest of bamboo trees and Taihu rocks. Stones are viewed as essential features of any traditional Chinese garden. After spending decades forming underwater, Taihu stones were chosen because they are believed to encourage circulation of ch'i, or natural energy.

Just steps away from Bellagio's furry fortune ambassadors, an 18-foot-tall Chinese God of Prosperity is found amidst gold leafed I-Ching coins, a traditional Chinese money symbol. Widely recognized as the strongest symbol of good fortune and great luck in the New Year, the God of Prosperity is flanked by two Ming Dynasty-styled dings, ancestral vessels that protect against bad fortunes.

Celebrating one of the greatest archaeological finds in history, and appearing for the first time in the Conservatory, are seven replica Terracotta Warriors covered in crushed walnuts and ground carrot seeds accompanied by a horse-drawn carriage. A form of funerary art, the original Terracotta Army was buried with the First Emperor Qin in 210-209 BC in the Shaanxi Province and later discovered in 1974 by a group of farmers digging a well. Oversized red silk Chinese lanterns throughout the Conservatory add to the auspicious nature of this spectacular exhibit. Legend has it that Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year and 12 came.

Culinary Specialties
In celebration of the Year of the Rabbit, select MGM Resorts International properties will feature specialty menus and authentic cuisine from the Far East.

MGM Grand - Pearl, whose hours will vary from Friday, Feb. 4 - Sunday, Feb. 13, will offer a traditional Chinese menu in addition to Dim Sum during lunch hours. Grand Wok, whose hours also will vary, will feature a special menu with a variety of select delicacies from Wednesday, Feb. 2 - Sunday, Feb. 12. For dining reservations, contact (702) 891-1111 or reserve online at www.mgmgrand.com.

The Mirage - Cravings and Fin will each present special dishes. Cravings is open for breakfast, Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.; lunch, Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.; dinner, nightly, 3 p.m. - 10 p.m.; and Champagne Brunch Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fin will be open for dinner Wednesday, Feb. 2 - Tuesday, Feb. 8 from 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. For dining reservations, contact (702) 791-7111 or reserve online at www.themirage.com.

Mandalay Bay - Shanghai Lilly and Noodle Shop will feature authentic Chinese cuisine in addition to special dishes. Dinner at Shanghai Lilly is served daily, 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. and Noodle Shop is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday, Feb. 2 - Friday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m. - 1 a.m.; Sunday, Feb. 5, 11 a.m. - midnight. For dining reservations, contact (702) 632-7200 or reserve online at www.mandalaybay.com.

Bellagio - Jasmine and Noodles will offer guests a Dim Sum lunch at each restaurant Thursday, Feb. 3 - Sunday, Feb. 13. Jasmine will serve a Dim Sum lunch buffet daily from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., and its regular dinner menu from 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Noodles will be open for lunch and dinner Thursday, Feb. 3 and Sunday, Feb. 6 - Sunday, Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. and Friday, Feb. 4 and Saturday, Feb. 5 from 11 a.m. - 4 a.m. The Dim Sum lunch will be served Thursday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. For dining reservations, contact (702) 693-7223 or reserve online at www.bellagio.com.

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