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Chinese Year of Snake celebrations in Asia Chinese Year of Snake celebrations in Asia
(about 11 hours later)
Millions of people are celebrating Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, the most important annual holiday in much of Asia.Millions of people are celebrating Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, the most important annual holiday in much of Asia.
The new year began in China at midnight, with firework displays and family gatherings.The new year began in China at midnight, with firework displays and family gatherings.
It marked the opening of the year of the snake, taking over from the dragon.It marked the opening of the year of the snake, taking over from the dragon.
In China, an estimated 200 million people have travelled to be with their families in what is considered the biggest mass human migration on Earth.In China, an estimated 200 million people have travelled to be with their families in what is considered the biggest mass human migration on Earth.
The BBC's John Sudworth, in Shanghai, says the big cities have been emptied of migrant workers, who are now at home in the far-flung provinces, reunited with family, often including their own young children, for the first time since last Lunar New Year. The holiday will continue throughout the week, with government offices and businesses shut down.
On Saturday evening, an anticipated 700 million people tuned in for state television's annual TV gala, a variety performance show in which Celine Dion was due to sing her theme tune from the movie Titanic.
Our correspondent says that, according to one well-known Chinese songwriter, My Heart Will Go On is one of two English songs that are well known in China. The other is Happy Birthday.
However, the gala's producers had been ordered to make the show a more low-key affair, in the wake of the new leadership's recent crackdown on corruption and official extravagance.
The authorities in Beijing are also asking people to limit the number of fireworks they set off, given the recent high levels of pollution.
The snake has a mixed reputation in China. It is associated with wisdom, beauty and intelligence but also pride and anger.The snake has a mixed reputation in China. It is associated with wisdom, beauty and intelligence but also pride and anger.
Lucky foods Pollution concerns
Ahead of the New Year, vast crowds of people passed through China's railway stations, airports and bus stations on to crowded transport, many of them making journeys of thousands of miles, sometimes lasting several days. Residents of Beijing braved freezing temperatures on Saturday night to let off fireworks, which are believed to ward off evil spirits.
Migrant workers in China often only have one holiday a year in which to visit their home towns, and will be taking the money they have saved back to their families. However, the displays in the capital were reportedly more muted than in previous years, starting later at night than usual and ending earlier on Sunday morning.
Vietnamese media said tens of thousands of people were also on the move there. The city authorities had asked people to set off fewer fireworks because of dangerous levels of air pollution and a high number of smoggy days during the past month.
Markets and shops have been selling red and gold decorations - colours considered lucky - for the past few weeks, bearing messages wishing good fortune and prosperity. There was a sharp reduction in the sale of fireworks in the city, with 260,000 boxes purchased in the five days leading up to the new year, a 37% drop compared with last year, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Traditional foods associated with long life or good luck are a key part of Lunar New Year festivities. City environmental bureau readings showed 2.5 microgram pollution levels well above the 200 mark in most parts of the city at midday on Sunday, but these were well below the readings of 700 seen in January. Last year's fireworks sent pollution levels as high as 1,500.
"I'm slicing the rice cake so that people can make rice noodle soup during the holidays," said Oh Jung-sook, a 72-year-old rice cake seller in the South Korean capital, Seoul. Saturday evening also saw an anticipated 700 million people watch state television's annual TV gala, a variety performance show in which Celine Dion sang her theme tune from the movie Titanic.
"People say that eating rice noodle soup can keep them healthy, age one more year and have no unfortunate events for the family throughout the year." Our correspondent says that, according to one well-known Chinese songwriter, My Heart Will Go On is one of two English songs that are well known in China. The other is Happy Birthday.
Will you be celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year? What do you have planned? You can get in touch using the form below: The gala's producers were ordered to make the show a more low-key affair, in the wake of the new leadership's recent crackdown on corruption and official extravagance.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can class="inlineText" href="http://bbcnewsupload.streamuk.com/">upload here. Before Saturday's celebrations began, Communist Party chief Xi Jinping, who will become president in March, paid a visit to subway construction workers in Beijing to thank them for their service.
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/2780295.stm#yourpics">Read the terms and conditions "Migrant workers have been the labour force behind China's reform and opening up... so we must look after you properly," he said. "I hope the construction firm has organised some new year entertainment for you so you can have a happy holiday."
Premier Wen Jiabao, who steps down in March, meanwhile celebrated the evening with victims of earthquakes and landslides in western China, state TV reported.
In Taiwan, President Ma Ying-jeou handed out traditional red envelopes containing money - in this case one Taiwanese dollar ($0.03; £0.02) - to people at a temple in Taipei.
Fireworks were also let off in Sydney.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard wished the 900,000 Australians of Chinese descent a "healthy and prosperous Year of the Snake" on Twitter.