Gallery: Asia celebrates Lunar New Year

Guards at a hotel watch fireworks celebrating the start of the upcoming Chinese New Year in Beijing. Picture: Reuters/ Kim Kyung-Hoon

Guards at a hotel watch fireworks celebrating the start of the upcoming Chinese New Year in Beijing. Picture: Reuters/ Kim Kyung-Hoon

A Cambodian performs a Chinese Dragon Dance for the upcoming Chinese New Year in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Picture: EPA/ Mak Remissa

Figurines called 'Lanterns of the Terracotta' by Chinese artist Xia Nan are set against the sails of the Sydney Opera House and are in Australia for the first time as part of the Chinese New Year Festival, in Sydney. Picture: EPA/ Dean Lewins

An Indonesian worker paints a part of the wall during the preparations for the Chinese New Year celebrations at a temple in China town in Jakarta, Indonesia. Picture: EPA/ Mast Irham

Filipino dancers perform a Dragon Dance on the eve of the Chinese New Year, in front of the Philippine Stocks Exchange building in Makati city, south of Manila, Philippines. Picture: EPA/Francis R Malasig

An ethnic Chinese-Thai lights a candles to do merit for good luck and health, during the celebrations for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year at a Chinese temple in Chinatown, Bangkok. Picture: EPA/ Narong Sangnak

A member of the Acrobatic Troupe of Xinjiang, Abulaiti-Maijun, walks the tightrope blindfolded during an aerial performance at the River Hongbao Lunar New Year Celebrations along Marina Bay in Singapore. Picture: Reuters/ Edgar Su

Member of the Acrobatic Troupe of Xinjiang Adili Wuxor walks the tightrope past a God of Fortune statue during an aerial performance at the River Hongbao Lunar New Year Celebrations along Marina Bay in Singapore. Picture: Reuters/ Edgar Su

Member of the Acrobatic Troupe of Xinjiang Abulaiti-Maijun walks the tightrope blindfolded during an aerial performance at the River Hongbao Lunar New Year Celebrations along Marina Bay in Singapore. Picture: Reuters/ Edgar Su

Students from Taiwan Shih Chien University Sung Jiang Battle Array walk during a rehearsal ahead of a Lunar New Year night parade in Hong Kong. Picture: Reuters/ Bobby Yip

A woman prays for good fortune while burning incense on the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Dongyue Temple in Beijing. Picture: Reuters/ Jason Lee

Chinese New Year lanterns are pictured at the Thean Hou temple in Kuala Lumpur. Picture: Reuters/ Olivia Harris

Traditional dancers perform lion dance during the opening of the temple fair for the Chinese New Year celebrations at Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth, in Beijing. Picture: Reuters/ Kim Kyung-Hoon

A girl, holding a sheep toy, eats at the Temple Fair, which is part of Chinese New Year celebrations at Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth, in Beijing. Picture: Reuters/ Kim Kyung-Hoon

A family uses a selfie stick, in front of a tree decorated with paper lanterns at the Temple Fair, which is part of Chinese New Year celebrations at Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth, in Beijing. Picture: Reuters/ Kim Kyung-Hoon

Men perform a lion dance to celebrate Chinese New Year in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. Picture: Reuters/ Samrang Pring

Dancers perform a fire dragon dance in the shower of molten iron spewing firework-like sparks during a folk art performance to celebrate traditional Chinese Spring Festival on Chinese Lunar New Year at the Happy Valley amusement park in Beijing. Picture: Reuters/ Kim Kyung-Hoon

A fire-eater performs at Manila's Chinatown district of Binondo to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Philippines. Picture: AP/ Bullit Marquez