In pictures: China celebrates Lantern Festival
- Published
Chinese people have been celebrating the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the Lunar New Year period.
Dating back to the Han Dynasty, the 2,000-year old festival sees cities transformed by lanterns and fireworks.
In Nuanquan, in Heibei province, blacksmiths use molten metal to create vivid displays of sparks, a tradition they say is cheaper than fireworks.
At the end of the holiday period, millions of migrant workers return to the cities after visiting rural relatives.
The ministry of railways says more than six million people are on the move at the end of the holiday period.
Thick smog is blanketing large areas of eastern and central China - but coal and car emissions rather than fireworks are to blame.
The Lantern Festival marks the end of celebrations for the Chinese Lunar New Year period, 15 days after it began.
- Published24 February 2013
- Published9 February 2013