People in China flocked to temples and fairs to pray for good health and fortune on Monday, the first of 15 days of celebrations for the Lunar New Year. It marks the Year of the Monkey, which is the ninth animal on the Chinese zodiac calendar.
In Beijing, hundreds of thousands of people visited traditional fairs in parks, as well as Buddhist and Taoist temples offering singing and dance performances and open-air markets selling handicrafts. Students and migrant workers often return to their hometown; it's the country's most important holiday, equivalent to Christmas for many Westerners.