BEIJING - Close shaves were the order of the day as people cut it fine and thousands of barbers across the country gave their customers hairy moments to remember. Thursday was longtaitou, the day "the dragon raises its head" and spring, the season of growth, is ushered in.

Chinese people, by tradition, will rush to have their hair cut on the second day of the second lunar month, hoping that it will bring good fortune for the year.

"I feel much more comfortable now," a newly shorn Zhao Yunfei sighed contentedly as he left Jinbancun, a famous barbers in Beijing.

Zhao had been waiting expectantly for this day.

"I endured some discomfort over the past few days," Zhao said. "Finally the day came. I got up early and rushed to this barbers."

Zhao said he arrived at 9:30 am, and waited until 11 am before it was his turn. But it was worthwhile.

"Now I have my hair cut and I feel better," he said.

Customers like Zhao keep barbers busy every year on the special day.

"We had more than 400 customers since the shop opened at 6:20 am," said Liu Qingchi, the manager of Jinbancun.

Liu said that he normally opens the shop at 9:30 am, and receives about 100 customers. "But today we might stay open until midnight."

Luo Qing, one of the eight barbers in the shop, said he had looked after 10 customers by the time he should have had breakfast.

In a barbershop in Huixindongjie Street, Chaoyang district, Beijing, all 14 barbers worked flat out for the entire day.