• Lantern festival kicks off in Shanghai

    Carlos Barria / Reuters

    A girl looks at lanterns as she visits the Shanghai International Lantern Festival in Luxun Park in Shanghai, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. According to Chinese tradition, people try to solve puzzles on lanterns, eat Yuanxiao (glutinous rice ball) and enjoy family reunions during the festival. The Lantern Festival is usually celebrated in winter, but in Shanghai, participants prefer to mark the festival at the end of summer to enjoy the warmer weather.

    Carlos Barria / Reuters

    A 656 feet dragon shaped lantern made with 10,000 pieces of porcelain including ceramic bowls, dishes, plates and cups releases smoke as locals visit the Shanghai International Lantern Festival.

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  • Contrasting images of Lantern Festival in China

    Chinafotopress via Getty Images

    Miao people perform a dragon dance to celebrate the coming lantern festival at Xiumei Square on Feb. 16 in Taijiang county of Guiyang, Guizhou province, China. The Lantern Festival, also known as Yuanxiao Festival or Shanguuan Festival, falls on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month in China. This year it will fall on Feb. 17.

    Jason Lee / Reuters

    A man dressed in a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) costume sits on an electric bicycle while waiting for a performance to celebrate the Lantern Festival, on the last day of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, in Beijing on Feb. 17.

    See more Chinese New Year photos on PhotoBlog here.