Thousands of people visit a lantern festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Dragon in Shanghai on Jan. 23, 2012. The Lunar New Year begins on Jan. 23 and is the begining of the Spring Festival holiday.
Thousands of people visit a lantern festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Dragon in Shanghai on Jan. 23, 2012. The Lunar New Year begins on Jan. 23 and is the begining of the Spring Festival holiday.
Thousands of people visit a lantern festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Dragon in Shanghai on Jan. 23, 2012. The Lunar New Year begins on Jan. 23 and is the begining of the Spring Festival holiday..
Scuba divers perform a dragon dance at the Shanghai aquarium to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year of the Dragon in Shanghai on Jan. 20, 2012. The Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 23 and is the begining of the Spring Festival holiday.
A man walks into a store selling Chinese New Year decorations in Chinatown on Jan. 18, 2012 in Singapore. On Jan. 23, Chinese around the world will welcome in the Year of the Dragon, one of the most anticipated holidays of the Chinese calendar. In Singapore, the Chinese make up nearly 75 percent of the population.
People shop for Chinese New Year decorations in Chinatown on Jan. 18, 2012 in Singapore. On Jan. 23, Chinese around the world will welcome the Year of the Dragon, one of the most anticipated holidays of the Chinese calendar. In Singapore, the Chinese make up nearly 75 percent of the population.
People shop for Chinese New Year decorations in Chinatown on Jan. 18, 2012 in Singapore. On Jan. 23, Chinese around the world will welcome the Year of the Dragon, one of the most anticipated holidays of the Chinese calendar. In Singapore, the Chinese make up nearly 75 percent of the population.
A woman prays to a Buddha deity at the Buddha Tooth Relic temple to welcome in the Chinese New Year on Jan. 23, 2011 in Singapore. Thousands of people converged on Chinatown to usher in the Year of the Water Dragon. For the Chinese, The Year of the Water Dragon is said to bring abundance, and good fortune.
Despite heavy rain a performer throws gifts and sweets to the crowd at midnight to welcome in the Chinese New Year on Jan. 23, 2011 in Singapore. Thousands of people converged on Chinatown to usher in the Year of the Water Dragon. For the Chinese, The Year of the Water Dragon is said to bring abundance, and good fortune.
People place joss sticks at the Buddha Tooth Relic temple to welcome in the Chinese New Year on Jan. 23, 2011 in Singapore. Thousands of people converged on Chinatown to usher in the Year of the Water Dragon. For the Chinese, The Year of the Water Dragon is said to bring abundance, and good fortune.
Workers install the Spring Festival decorations in a street on Jan. 14, 2012 in Shenyang, China. The new year in Chinese calendar is the Year of Dragon, which will fall on Jan. 23, 2012.
The Spring Festival decorations are installed at Beijing Olympic Park on Jan. 14, 2012 in Beijing, China. The new year in Chinese calendar is the year of Dragon which will fall on Jan. 23, 2012.
The Spring Festival decorations are installed at Beijing Olympic Park on Jan. 14, 2012 in Beijing, China. The new year in Chinese calendar is the year of Dragon which will fall on Jan. 23, 2012.
A worker carries fireworks for use during the Chinese New Year in Beijing on January 20, 2012. The Chinese New Year know locally as the Spring Festival, causes the world's largest annual migration of people with millions of travelers boarding public transport to journey across the vast country for the Lunar New Year celebrations. The government estimates the number of passenger trips on trains, planes, boats and buses will reach 3.2 billion during the holiday, up 9.1 percent from last year.
A Chinese performer during his snake act at the Ditan Temple Fair, which is one of the highlights of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Jan. 22, 2012. 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.
A woman wears a novelty mask as she tours the Ditan Temple Fair, which is one of the highlights of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Jan. 22, 2012. 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.
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 on Jan. 22, 2012. 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.
A Chinese actor dressed as a Qing Dynasty emperor prepares for a prayer during an ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony in which emperors prayed for good harvest and fortune at a temple fair in Ditan Park during the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing, China, on Jan. 23, 2012.
A hawker arranges dragons to attract customers to his stall at the Ditan Temple Fair, which is one of the highlights of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Jan. 22, 2012. 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.
Members of the Chinese community perform a dragon dance as they celebrate the Chinese New Year in Calcutta, on Jan. 23, 2012. 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.
Members of the Chinese community in India perform a lion dance as they celebrate the Chinese New Year in Calcutta, on Jan. 23, 2012. The colorful dragon dance, the fire crackers and the traditional offering food to Dragon (Ching Choy) are part of the day long celebrations in the areas populated with people of Chinese origin.
Members of the Chinese community in India celebrate the Chinese New Year in Calcutta, on Jan. 23, 2012. The colorful dragon dance, the fire crackers and the traditional offering food to Dragon (Ching Choy) are part of the day long celebrations in the areas populated with people of Chinese origin.
Members of the Chinese community in India perform a lion dance as they celebrate the Chinese New Year in Calcutta, on Jan. 23, 2012. The colorful dragon dance, the fire crackers and the traditional offering food to Dragon (Ching Choy) are part of the day long celebrations in the areas populated with people of Chinese origin.
Members of the Chinese community perform a dragon dance as they celebrate the Chinese New Year in Calcutta, on Jan. 23, 2012. 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.
People perform during an underwater theater show celebrating Chinese New Year in the Ancol park in Jakarta on Jan. 23, 2012. The Lunar new year is the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar.
People perform during an underwater theater show celebrating Chinese New Year in the Ancol park in Jakarta on Jan. 23, 2012. The Lunar new year is the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar.
People perform during an underwater theater show celebrating Chinese New Year in the Ancol park in Jakarta on Jan. 23, 2012. The Lunar new year is the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar.
Indonesians perform a dragon dance celebrating Chinese New Year in the Ancol park in Jakarta on Jan. 23, 2012. The Lunar new year is the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar.
A family pray at a Buddhist temple in Denpasar, on the Hindu majority island of Bali on Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year is celebrated in many parts of the predominantly Islamic country of 240 million people, where Chinese heritage took roots thru ancient transmigration.
Woman pray at a Buddhist temple in Denpasar, on the Hindu majority island of Bali on Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year is celebrated in many parts of the predominantly Islamic country of 240 million people where Chinese heritage took roots thru ancient transmigration.
A woman burns incense sticks at a Buddhist temple in Denpasar, on the Hindu majority island of Bali on Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year is celebrated in many parts of the predominantly Islamic country of 240 million people where Chinese heritage took roots thru ancient transmigration.
Filipinos perform a dragon dance in Chinatown to celebrate Chinese New Year in Manila on Jan. 23, 2012. The Lunar new year is the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar.
A fire breather performs in Chinatown in Manila a day before the Chinese New Year on Jan. 22, 2012. The Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 23 and is the beginning of the Spring Festival holiday.
A fire breather performs in Chinatown in Manila a day before the Chinese New Year on Jan. 22, 2012. The Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 23 and is the beginning of the Spring Festival holiday.
A performer reaches out for the gift being dangled from a supermarket during dragon and lion dance performance in celebration of the Chinese New Year at Manila's Chinatown district on Jan. 23, 2012 in the Philippines. This year is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar.
Scuba divers perform a dragon dance at the Manila Ocean Park to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year of the Dragon on Jan. 21, 2012. The Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 23 and is the begining of the Spring Festival holiday.
Pedestrians walk past decorative lights ahead of Chinese New Year of the Dragon in Kuala Lumpur on Jan. 20, 2012. The Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 23 and is the beginning of the Spring Festival holiday.
Children perform at a shopping mall during the celebrations ahead of Chinese New Year of the Dragon in Kuala Lumpur on Jan. 20, 2012. The Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 23 and is the beginning of the Spring Festival holiday.
Performers take part in a dragon dance during a night parade in Hong Kong on Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the Chinese zodiac, the year 2012 is called the Year of the Dragon.
Dancers performer in front of a fish-shape float in a night parade in Hong Kong on Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the Chinese zodiac, the year 2012 is called the Year of the Dragon.
Dancers performer near a float decorated with dragons in a night parade in Hong Kong on Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the Chinese zodiac, the year 2012 is called the Year of the Dragon.
Performers dance in front of a float decorated with dragons in a night parade in Hong Kong Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the Chinese zodiac, the year 2012 is called the Year of the Dragon.
Shaolin monks take part in a night parade in Hong Kong on Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the Chinese zodiac, the year 2012 is called the Year of the Dragon.
Performers take part in a dragon dance in a night parade in Hong Kong on Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the Chinese zodiac, the year 2012 is called the Year of the Dragon.
A performer takes part in a night parade in Hong Kong on Jan. 23, 2012, celebrating the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the Chinese zodiac, the year 2012 is called the Year of the Dragon.
Performers take part in a dragon dance during a night parade in Hong Kong on Jan. 23, 2012, to celebrate the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the Chinese zodiac, the year 2012 is called the Year of the Dragon.
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, on Jan. 23, 2012.
A Myanmarese ethnic Chinese troupe performs a traditional lion dance during the cerebration of the Lunar New Year at Chinese Buddhist temple on Jan. 23, 2012, in Yangon, Myanmar.
Myanmarese ethnic Chinese light candles at a Chinese Buddhist temple during the cerebration of the Lunar New Year on Jan. 23, 2012, in Yangon, Myanmar.
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, on Jan 23, 2012. ()