Lunar New Year begins across Asia
- 10 years ago
Thousands across Asia usher in the Year of the Horse on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
At sunrise in Beijing, worshippers flocked to a popular temple to pray for good luck and a prosperous year ahead.
Others threw copper tokens at a bell hanging under a bridge....according to tradition, tokens that hit the bell result in granted wishes.
(SOUNDBITE)(Mandarin) 78-YEAR-OLD RETIREE LIN RONGZHEN SAYING:
"Year of the Horse means racing forward, succeeding quickly. Things should go well, the whole family should be peaceful and safe, and society and the country should be good."
In Chinatown in Manila, clouds of smoke hung in the air as crowds lit firecrackers and watched traditional dragon dances.
The neighbourhood is one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world dating back to 1594 when the Chinese travelled to the region for trade.
More celebrations in Kuala Lumpur...
Vistors watched a lion dance and prayed for the year ahead at a temple ador
At sunrise in Beijing, worshippers flocked to a popular temple to pray for good luck and a prosperous year ahead.
Others threw copper tokens at a bell hanging under a bridge....according to tradition, tokens that hit the bell result in granted wishes.
(SOUNDBITE)(Mandarin) 78-YEAR-OLD RETIREE LIN RONGZHEN SAYING:
"Year of the Horse means racing forward, succeeding quickly. Things should go well, the whole family should be peaceful and safe, and society and the country should be good."
In Chinatown in Manila, clouds of smoke hung in the air as crowds lit firecrackers and watched traditional dragon dances.
The neighbourhood is one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world dating back to 1594 when the Chinese travelled to the region for trade.
More celebrations in Kuala Lumpur...
Vistors watched a lion dance and prayed for the year ahead at a temple ador