Chinese New Year

Fireworks on sale in Beijing. More than 2,000 kiosks have sprung up in the city in the past week to sell fire crackers and other pyrotechnics Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Fireworks on sale for new year celebrations Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

The price of many traditional new year items have risen due to inflation. A boy selects his new year fireworks carefully Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Li Baoshang, a retired factory worker, tries to make his pension go as far as possible as he shops for new year food at a local Beijing market Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

A man sleeping rough at Beijing railway station, where millions of migrant workers pack onto trains home Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Migrant worker Ma Yingwei and his son, Ma Ruixiang, prepare to travel from Beijing to Shandong province by train Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Traditional decorations with a rat theme - marking the year of the rat - on sale in a market Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Xing Jin can only look forward to a brief holiday. She opened 14 new outlets last year and doubled sales of foreign-designed accessories. She often has to work until 3 or 4am to keep up Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian

Rat catcher Xiang Wen will be relaxing with his family ahead of a busy new year, when his pest control company will be helping to keep the Beijing Olympics rat free Photograph: Dan Chung/Guardian