China welcomes the Year of the Snake
China ushered in the Year of the Snake at midnight (1600 GMT), as the Chinese New Year began for the country of approximately 1.4 billion inhabitants.
The New Year's festival, also known as the Spring Festival, is based on the traditional lunar calendar and therefore takes place on different days around the end of January or the beginning of February.
It is also celebrated in other Asian countries such as Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Indonesia - and by Chinese expats living around the globe.
During the holiday which last several days, most shops and offices are closed, and the most important travel season of the year begins, as many people now living in the cities travel back to their home towns.
Around the New Year's festival, the largest travel wave in the world occurs. This year, the Chinese Ministry of Transport expects around 510 million train journeys and 90 million flights.
In many places, celebrations include fireworks, and in some major cities, there are also drone shows.
As families gather for the traditional meal together, the grand New Year Gala is broadcast on television, which is considered the world's most-watched TV programme.
For the Chinese economy, the festival is a significant factor. Traditionally, red envelopes with money are given as gifts, stimulating consumption. Often these envelopes are now sent digitally to smartphones.
The Spring Festival also has an impact on the rest of the world, with tourist destinations benefiting from the fact that many Chinese take holidays.
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