Preparing for the Lunar New Year across Asia
The Lunar New Year, known locally as the Spring Festival, falls on January 28 this year and marks the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese calendar.
- Passengers arrive at the train station as they prepare to travel to their hometowns for the “Spring Festival” or Lunar New Year on January 24, 2017 at Beijing Railway Station. The huge movement of Chinese travelling home to spend the Lunar New Year with their families is often described as the world’s largest human migration and overcrowded planes, trains and automobiles are the norm. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images)
- This photo taken on January 22, 2017 shows Chinese tourists taking selfies as they visit a palace lantern display at Beijing Olympic Park in Beijing. The Lunar New Year, known locally as the Spring Festival, falls on January 28 this year and marks the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese calendar. (STR/China/AFP/Getty Images)
- Chinese children stand near a lantern tree display ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on January 24, 2017. The Lunar New Year, known locally as the Spring Festival, falls on January 28 this year and marks the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese calendar. (Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images)
- A Chinese woman blows bubbles near a tree decorated with lanterns ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on January 24, 2017. The Lunar New Year, known locally as the Spring Festival, falls on January 28 this year and marks the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese calendar. (Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images)
- This picture taken on January 16, 2017 shows a woman (R) taking a selfie with a man (C) in traditional Chinese dress as he hands out “laicee” packets in Hong Kong for the Year of the Rooster as the 2017 Lunar New Year approaches. US President Donald Trump will strut through the Year of the Rooster, thriving as Hong Kong geomancers predict 2017 will be marked by the arguments and aggression — characteristics attributed to the animal. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images)
- This picture taken on January 21, 2017 shows soft toys for sale at a stall in Hong Kong ahead of the Year of the Rooster as the 2017 Lunar New Year approaches. US President Donald Trump will strut through the Year of the Rooster, thriving as Hong Kong geomancers predict 2017 will be marked by the arguments and aggression — characteristics attributed to the animal. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images)
- This picture taken on January 21, 2017 shows people looking at a stall in Hong Kong selling decorations for the Year of the Rooster as the 2017 Lunar New Year approaches. US President Donald Trump will strut through the Year of the Rooster, thriving as Hong Kong geomancers predict 2017 will be marked by the arguments and aggression — characteristics attributed to the animal. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images)
- This picture taken on January 17, 2017 shows a man (R) walking past potted kumquat plants, a symbol of good luck and prosperity, on sale in Hong Kong for the Year of the Rooster as the 2017 Lunar New Year approaches. US President Donald Trump will strut through the Year of the Rooster, thriving as Hong Kong geomancers predict 2017 will be marked by the arguments and aggression — characteristics attributed to the animal. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images)
- A worker paints a statue at a Chinese temple ahead of the Lunar New Year festival in Denpasar, on Indonesia’s Bali island on January 23, 2017. Indonesian-Chinese are preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year or “Spring Festival, which falls on January 28 this year, for the start of the Year of the Rooster. (Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP/Getty Images)
- A man (L) takes picture of lanterns decorating a Chinese temple ahead of the Lunar New Year festival in Denpasar, on Indonesia’s Bali island on January 23, 2017. Indonesian-Chinese are preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year or “Spring Festival, which falls on January 28 this year, for the start of the Year of the Rooster. (Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP/Getty Images)
- A worker paints a statue at a Chinese temple ahead of the Lunar New Year festival in Denpasar, on Indonesia’s Bali island on January 23, 2017. Indonesian-Chinese are preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year or “Spring Festival, which falls on January 28 this year, for the start of the Year of the Rooster. (Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP/Getty Images)
- A man walks by a Chinese temple decorated with lanterns ahead of the Lunar New Year festival in Denpasar, on Indonesia’s Bali island on January 23, 2017. Indonesian-Chinese are preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year or “Spring Festival, which falls on January 28 this year, for the start of the Year of the Rooster. (Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP/Getty Images)
- People walk past lanterns and decorations at a market ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Yangon’s Chinatown district on January 24, 2017. (Ye Aung Thu/AFP/Getty Images)
- People walk past lanterns and decorations at a market ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Yangon’s Chinatown district on January 24, 2017. (Ye Aung Thu/AFP/Getty Images)
- Chinese children pose for a photograph beside a lantern tree display ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on January 24, 2017. The Lunar New Year, known locally as the Spring Festival, falls on January 28 this year and marks the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese calendar. (Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images)
- A street vendor hawks oranges along a street in downtown Hanoi on January 23, 2017, as Vietnamese prepare to celebrate the Lunar New Year or Tet later this week. Known locally as Tet, the celebration of the Lunar New Year is Vietnam’s most important holiday and triggers a surge in consumption and travel ahead of an extended nationwide shutdown. (Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP/Getty Images)
- A shopkeeper sits next to boxes of gifts for the Lunar New Year, or Tet, at a shop in downtown Hanoi on January 23, 2017, as Vietnamese prepare to celebrate the Lunar New Year or Tet later this week. Known locally as Tet, the celebration of the Lunar New Year is Vietnam’s most important holiday and triggers a surge in consumption and travel ahead of an extended nationwide shutdown. (Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP/Getty Images)
- A farmer riding a motorcycle transports blossoms for sale along a street in downtown Hanoi on January 23, 2017, as Vietnamese prepare to celebrate the Lunar New Year or Tet later this week. Known locally as Tet, the celebration of the Lunar New Year is Vietnam’s most important holiday and triggers a surge in consumption and travel ahead of an extended nationwide shutdown. (Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP/Getty Images)
- Ethnic Chinese Thais offer yellow flowers after prayers at the Leng Nuei Yee Chinese temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. Chinese New Year falls on Jan. 28, this year, marking the start of the Year of Rooster according to the Chinese lunar calendar. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
- Ethnic Chinese Thais offer flowers before prayers at the Leng Nuei Yee Chinese temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. Chinese New Year falls on Jan. 28, this year, marking the start of the Year of Rooster according to the Chinese lunar calendar. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
- A Japanese Phoenix rooster is seen at a ornamental chicken farm in Hanoi, Vietnam on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. The colorful feathered fowls have become favorite pets as Vietnam is welcoming the Lunar New Year of Rooster. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)
- A worker prepares Chinese New Year decorations outside a mall in Beijing Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Chinese worldwide celebrates the Lunar New Year on Jan. 28 with family reunions, fire crackers and traditional food. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
- Ethnic Chinese Thais light candles after praying at the Leng Nuei Yee Chinese temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. Chinese New Year falls on Jan. 28, this year, marking the start of the Year of Rooster according to the Chinese lunar calendar. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
- An ethnic Chinese Thai lights a candle before praying at the Leng Nuei Yee Chinese temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. Chinese New Year falls on Jan. 28, this year, marking the start of the Year of Rooster according to the Chinese lunar calendar. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
- A Vietnamese bantam, locally known as “Ga Tre,” or rooster, rests on a ring at a ornamental chicken farm in Hanoi, Vietnam on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. The colorful feathered fowls have become favorite pets as Vietnam is welcoming the Lunar New Year of Rooster. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)
- A Vietnamese bantam, locally known as “Ga Tre,” or rooster, walks at a ornamental chicken farm in Hanoi, Vietnam on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. The colorful feathered fowls have become favorite pets as Vietnam is welcoming the Lunar New Year of Rooster. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)
- A couple of Vietnamese bantam, locally known as “Ga Tre,” or hen and rooster, are seen at a ornamental chicken farm in Hanoi, Vietnam on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. The colorful feathered fowls have become favorite pets as Vietnam is welcoming the Lunar New Year of Rooster. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)