In Pictures

Chinese celebrate Lunar New Year

Millions travel from cities to their home villages for colourful events celebrating the Year of the Snake.

CHINA-LUNAR-NEW YEAR-TRAVEL — Lunar New Year travellers wait for their train at the West Railway Station in Beijing on January 31, 2013. The world(***)s largest annual migration is underway in China with tens of millions across China boarding trains to journey home for Lunar New Year celebrations [Reuters]

The Chinese Lunar New Year is considered the largest migration of people in the world, as millions of Chinese travel back to their home villages to celebrate with family and friends.

According to the state news agency, Xinhua, 3.41 billion trips are expected to be made during the festival from January 26 to March 6.

This year marks the Year of the Snake, and many Chinese believe the slippery creatures can cure medicial problems, such as impotency.

Celebrations are underway across the world’s most populous country.

China Lunar New Year — Chinese performers arrange each other(***)s costumes before a recreation of the Sacrifice to Heaven ritual on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing [EPA]

CHINA-TRANSPORT-LUNAR-NEW-YEAR — The Lunar New Year holiday is the most important annual celebration in China, when the nation largely shuts down as families gather together for reunions and feasts [Reuters]