China is all geared up for New Year - the Year of Dragon, which begins on January 23.

The Chinese New Year is not only widely celebrated in China and neighbouring East and South-East Asian countries, but also in far-off cities such as New York, Toronto and London which have a high concentration of the Chinese diaspora.

The celebrations are also called Spring Festival and Lunar New Year.

The traditional New Year celebrations are all about feasts, cutouts of dragon, colourful lanterns and fireworks.

The Chinese zodiac has 12 animals; dragon is considered the most auspicious and is associated with might and intelligence. Babies, particularly boys born in dragon year, are believed to be successful, live long and become prosperous.

The celebrations last for 15 days, with people wishing each other and organising get-togethers; millions move from one part of China to another, making it the biggest human movement on earth.

Houses are cleaned to ward off bad luck and decorated to welcome good luck.

Chinese New Year-Year of Dragon
A dragon-themed dish is seen among other dishes during a grand feast at Baibuting residential area in Wuhan. Reuters
Chinese New Year-Year of Dragon
A dragon lantern is seen among other Chinese New Year decorations at Yuyuan Garden in downtown Shanghai. Reuters
Chinese New Year-Year of Dragon
Visitors take pictures in front of a dragon-shaped lantern which has been set up for the upcoming Lunar New Year in Beijing. Reuters
Chinese New Year-Year of Dragon
A worker installs dragon decoration for upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in Wuhan. Reuters
Chinese New Year-Year of Dragon
Visitors walk past dragon-shaped lanterns set up for the upcoming Spring Festival in Xi'an. Reuters
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