Millions of Chinese have begun the annual mass exodus ahead of family reunions to usher in the Year of the Tiger [EPA]
Published On 9 Feb 20109 Feb 2010
The lunar new year or Spring Festival falls on February 14 and is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays [AFP]
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An estimated 210 million people will be using public transportation, especially trains, across China during the festive period [Reuters]
Chinese railway officials estimated that the number of people travelling over the 40-day Spring Festival season would be almost 10 per cent greater than last year [Reuters]
The lunar new year period starts with the new moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon two weeks later [AFP]
The 15th day of the new year is the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade [AFP]
The tiger represents the third year in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac [Reuters]
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Chinese traditionally believe that tigers can protect the home against dangers such as fire and burglary [Reuters]
Fortune-tellers get busy with feng shui, the traditional Chinese practice of predicting the fortune of a person through dates and classical Chinese texts [AFP]
Festivities are also marked by dragon and lion dances as a symbol of good luck and prosperity [Reuters]
