Fireworks, feasts celebrate Year of Dragon
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Chinese dancers perform on a stage at a temple fair in Ditan Park during the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing, China, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
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Chinese dragon dancers draw attention from onlookers as they celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, parading through China Town in Yokohama, one of the biggest in Japan, near Tokyo, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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A Chinese woman holds a candle before a prayer as part of celebrations of Lunar New Year at a temple in Tangerang, Banten province, Indonesia, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
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Taiwanese people buy New Year's foods for Chinese Lunar New Year at a traditional market in Taipei, Taiwan, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. This year, the first day of the Year of the Dragon, falls on Monday, Jan. 23. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
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A female diver in a mermaid costume and two male divers holding a dragon and a decorated ball perform inside an aquarium as part of the celebration of Chinese New Year at Manila's Ocean Park, Philippines, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. This year is the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese calendar. (AP Photo/Pat Roque)
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In this Friday Jan. 20 2012 photo, Chinese travelers crowd a long-distance bus terminal in Chengdu, in southwestern China's Sichuan province. Millions of Chinese are expected to cram onto China's train and bus network to return home for the Chinese Lunar New Year which begins on Jan. 23, 2012. (AP Photo) CHINA OUT
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A North Korean guard walks up a platform towards a large portrait of the late Kim Jong Il and bouquets of flowers placed in front of it as people pay their respects on the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. Pyongyang residents said they were encouraged to celebrate the traditional holiday as they usually do, despite the death of Kim Jong Il, only the second leader North Koreans have known since the nation was founded in 1948. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
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People shop for good luck charms on the eve of the celebration of the Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. This year, the first day of the Year of the Dragon, falls on Monday, Jan. 23. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
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A group of Cambodian ethnic Chinese performs dragon dance in front of the Royal Palace, ahead of Lunar New Year in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
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Sophia Tang, 1, eats an orange slice during the Chinese New Year luncheon celebrating the year of the dragon, sponsored by the Chinese American Association of NEPA at Super Buffet World in Edwardsville, Pa., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. The luncheon featured oranges and whole fish, both traditionally seen as signs of prosperity, amongst other food, drink and desserts. (AP Photo/The Citizens' Voice, Kristen Mullen) MANDATORY CREDIT
BEIJING >> Millions of ethnic Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese across Asia are ringing in the new Year of the Dragon with fireworks, feasting and family reunions.
From Beijing to Bangkok and Seoul to Singapore, people hoping for good luck in the new year that began Monday are visiting temples and lighting incense, setting off firecrackers and watching street performances of lion and dragon dances.
For many, the Lunar New Year is the biggest family reunion of the year for which people endured hours of cramped travel on trains and buses to get home.
In ancient times the dragon was a symbol reserved for the Chinese emperor, and it is considered to be an extremely auspicious sign.
