2012 Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations

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A reveler writes "Dragon" in traditional Chinese characters and "2012" with fireworks in Beijing, on January 22, 2012. (Liu Jin/AFP/Getty Images)

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The Dragon Dance - Feng Li / Getty Images - Jan. 22, 2012- Beijing, China Chinese folk artists prepare to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Dragon.

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Chinese dancers perform at a temple fair in Ditan Park on the first day of the Chinese New Year in Beijing, China

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A performer prepares to take part in a traditional Qing Dynasty ceremony in which emperors prayed for good fortune, during the opening of an annual fair at the Temple of Earth park in Beijing. China is welcoming the year of the dragon, a symbol considered to be particularly auspicious because it is the only mythical creature among the dozen animals that represent each year in the Chinese cosmic cycle. (Photo by Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)

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Performers wearing costumes of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) take part in a worship ceremony at Temple of Heaven in Beijing. (Photo by Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images

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Performers take part in an ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony during the opening of the temple fair at Ditan Park in Beijing. Source: Reuters Chinese New Year 2012: Qing Dynasty on Show Colourful performances were presented in the Chinese capital Beijing to depict the Qing dynasty's ceremony ahead of the Chinese New Year - Year of Dragon. - A performer dressed as a Qing emperor prayed for good harvest and good luck at Ditan Park, also known as the Temple Park. - The Qing dynasty (1644-1911) was established by the Manchus and made Beijing their capital in 1644. The Temple of Earth, it is believed, was built in 1530 by the Ming dynasty (Qing dynasty's predecessors). Both the dynasties used to make sacrifices to seek the blessings of God and bless the whole kingdom with luck, prosperity and fortune. - During the New Year, the temple is decorated with colourful lanterns and draws thousands of people.

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Performers wearing costumes of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) take part in a worship ceremony at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. (Photo by Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)

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Long tradition: Performers dressed in Qing Dynasty costumes participate in an ancient ceremony in Ditan Park in Beijing

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Ancient march: The new year, which traditionally lasts for 15 days, is the longest and most important of the Chinese holidays

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Performers march through a gate as they take part in an ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony during the opening of the temple fair at Ditan Park in Beijing. - Source: Reuters

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A performer dressed as a Qing dynasty emperor prepares to pray in an ancient ceremony during the opening of the temple fair at Ditan Park in Beijing - Source: Reuters

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A performer dressed as a Qing dynasty emperor prays during an ancient ceremony as part of the opening of the temple fair at Ditan Park in Beijing - Source: Reuters

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REUTERS/Soo Hoo Zheyang - Actors dressed in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) costumes take part in the heaven-worshipping ceremony, in which people pray for good harvest and fortune, to celebrate the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, January 23, 2012.

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Performers wearing traditional costumes take part in a lion dance during the opening of the temple fair at Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth, in Beijing, Jan. 22, 2012. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on Jan. 23 and marks the start of the Year of the Dragon, according to the Chinese zodiac. - Source: REUTERS/David Gray

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Dragon dance performers welcome in Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing. - Source: Reuters/Soo Hoo Zheyang

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Chinese folk artists perform the lion dance at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year on January 22, 2012 in Beijing. Also known as the Spring Festival, which is based on the Lunisolar calendar, it is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with the Lantern Festival on the Fifteenth day. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

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Temple fair performers with cartoon-dragon-shaped balloon costumes rehearse for upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the year of the dragon, near a roadside decoration showing Chinese character "spring" in Beijing, China, on January 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan)

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Colourful: A lion dance dominates the opening of the temple fair at Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth

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Diego Azubel / EPA - Actors perform the dragon dance on the eve of the New Year of the Dragon at a park in Beijing, China, Jan. 22. On Jan. 23, Chinese around the globe will mark the start of the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year of the Dragon according the 12-year Chinese cycle of zodiac animals.

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Chinese folk artists prepare to perform at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Dragon on January 22, 2012 in Beijing, China. (Getty)

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Chinese folk artists prepare to perform the lion dance at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Dragon in Beijing, China. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

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Chinese folk artists perform at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Dragon in Beijing, China. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

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Costume party A performer dressed in traditional costume and wearing make-up prepares to take part in Chinese New Year celebrations at the 700-year-old Dongyue Temple in Beijing on Jan. 23. The temple is the largest of its kind in northern China for the Zhengyi school of Taoism, and was originally built by Taoist monks in the 14th century. David Gray / Reuters

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Performers dressed in traditional costumes and wearing make-up dance as they take part in Chinese new year celebrations at the 700-year-old Dongyue Temple in Beijing January 23, 2012. The temple is the largest of its kind in northern China for the Zhengyi school of Taoism, and was originally built by Taoist monks in the 14th century. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on January 23 and marks the start of the Year of the Dragon, according to the Chinese zodiac. REUTERS/David Gray

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A performer dressed in traditional costume and wearing makeup drinks tea as he and others prepare to take part in Chinese new year celebrations at the 700-year-old Dongyue Temple in Beijing, on January 23, 2012. The temple is the largest of its kind in northern China for the Zhengyi school of Taoism, and was originally built by Taoist monks in the 14th century. (Reuters/David Gray)

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A performer warms her ears with her hands as she takes part in the opening ceremony of a Spring Festival Temple Fair to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at Longtan Park in Beijing, on January 22, 2012. (Reuters/Soo Hoo Zheyang)

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Chinese women wear dragon hats as they tour the Ditan Temple Fair, which is one of the highlights of the Lunar New Year in Beijing. (Photo by Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

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Young Chinese performers dressed in dragon costumes prepare to perform at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Dragon on January 22, 2012 in Beijing, China. (Feng Li/Getty Images

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Feng Li/Getty Images - A Chinese young performer dressed in dragon costumes prepares to perform at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Dragon on January 22, 2012 in Beijing, China. A young performer dressed in dragon costume prepares to perform at a temple fair to celebrate the Year of Dragon on January 22, 2012 in Beijing. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

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Chinese young performers dressed in dragon costumes perform at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Dragon in Beijing, China. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

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Chinese folk artists prepare to perform at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Dragon in Beijing, China. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

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A Chinese young performer dressed in dragon costumes prepares to perform at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Dragon in Beijing, China. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

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A Chinese man attaches a blessing tablet with his wishes for the new year on the first day of the "Year of the Dragon", at the Dongyue Temple in Beijing, on January 23, 2012. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

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A Chinese woman lights joss sticks to pray for prosperity and well being on the first day of the "Year of the Dragon", at the Dongyue Temple in Beijing, on January 23, 2012. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

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REUTERS/Jason Lee A woman prays for good fortune as she holds burning incense on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing January 23, 2012.

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REUTERS/Jason Lee - People burn incense to pray for good fortune on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing January 23, 2012.

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People burn incense to pray for good fortune on the first day of the lunar new year at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing on January 23, 2012. (Jason Lee/Reuters)

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A woman burns incense to pray for good fortune on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, on January 23, 2012. (Reuters/Jason Lee) #

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Fireworks light up the skyline of Beijing as residents celebrate the start of the Chinese new year. Source: Reuters