Chinese new year celebrations around the world

Devotees give offerings to Buddha at a Chinese temple in Chinatown in Jakarta, Indonesia Photograph: Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty Images

A man places a lotus-shaped candle in a basin outside a Buddhist temple in Bangkok on the eve of the lunar new year Photograph: Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

A worshipper offers the first prayer of the lunar new year in Shanghai, China Photograph: Eugene Hoshiko/AP

A man releases birds after praying during new year celebrations at a temple in Jakarta, Indonesia Photograph: Bagus Indahono/EPA

A Chinese man lights a firecracker to mark the start of the lunar new year holiday in Shanghai Photograph: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images

Fireworks in Beijing, China, light up the night sky to mark the new lunar year Photograph: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

Rabbit lanterns are illuminated to welcome the Chinese new year in Nanjing, Jiangsu province in China Photograph: ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

Crowds burn incense for good luck in Tongxian, Zhejiang province in China Photograph: ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

Revellers flock to a temple fair to celebrate the lunar new year in Chengdu, south-west China's Sichuan province Photograph: Gou Yige/AFP/Getty Images

A Chinese dragon dances in an alley during new year celebrations in Calcutta, India Photograph: Bikas Das/AP

A woman walks past illuminated lanterns on new year's eve in Shanghai Photograph: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images

Worshippers holding incense sticks pray during new year celebrations at the Lungshan temple in Taipei City, Taiwan Photograph: Pichi Chuang/Reuters

Indonesian Chinese residents see in the new year at a temple in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia Photograph: Adi Weda/EPA

A child selects a rabbit-shaped souvenir for sale during celebrations in Chinatown, Binondo, near Metro Manila, Philippines Photograph: Romeo Ranoco/Reuters

A man performs a lion dance at the Philippine stock exchange in Makati City, Manila's financial district Photograph: Rolex Dela Pena/EPA

Fireworks explode across the Singapore skyline during the annual river Hongbao festival Photograph: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Locals burn incense to pray for good fortune on the first day of the Chinese lunar new year at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing Photograph: Petar Kujundzic/Reuters

The top of the Empire State Building is covered in red and yellow lights to celebrate the Chinese new year in New York Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Visitors greet a lion dance troupe at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Photograph: Shamshahrin Shamsudin/EPA

Worshippers hold aloft incense, seeing in the lunar new year with prayers at Petak Sembilan temple in Jakarta Photograph: Beawiharta/Reuters

A woman is surrounded by illuminated lanterns and decorations on new year's eve in Shanghai Photograph: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images