Millions of people all over the world celebrated the Chinese New Year in style, with Monday (8 February) marking the start of the year of the monkey. The Chinese Lunar New Year – also known as the Spring Festival, which is based on the Lunisolar Chinese calendar – is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day. New Year's Day is celebrated with people lighting incense, setting off fireworks and praying for the upcoming year to bring them happiness and good luck.
Chinese worshippers light incense and pray at the Yongchegong Lama Temple in Beijing, ChinaKevin Frayer/Getty
People makes incense offerings and pray at Wong Tai Sin Temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year Holiday in Hong KongAnthony Kwan/Getty
A lion dance is performed during Chinese New Year celebrations at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaOlivia Harris/Reuters
Chinese worshippers light incense and pray at the Yongchegong Lama Temple in Beijing, ChinaKevin Frayer/Getty
A member of the Chinese community of Glasgow is dressed in traditional costume to celebrate The Year of The Monkey in Glasgow, ScotlandJeff J Mitchell/Getty
Revellers from all over the globe took part in the festivities – from George Square in Glasgow to Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong – while Beijing saw some spectacular firework displays with people dancing in the street. Tens of thousands of worshippers flocked to temples to pay respects to their ancestors and pray for good fortune in 2016.
Women from the Chinese community in Glasgow dressed in traditional costumes to celebrate the year of the monkey in Glasgow, ScotlandJeff J Mitchell/Getty
Women pray in a temple decorated to celebrate Chinese New Year at Samut Prakan Province near Bangkok, ThailandJorge Silva/ReutersA woman from the Chinese community in Glasgow dressed in traditional costume to celebrate the year of the monkey in Glasgow, ScotlandJeff J Mitchell/GettyChinese community of Glasgow dress in traditional costumes to celebrate the year of the monkey in Glasgow, ScotlandJeff J Mitchell/GettyChildren join the Chinese community in Glasgow attending the year of the monkey New Year celebrations in Glasgow, ScotlandJeff J Mitchell/GettyWomen praying at a temple during Chinese New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaOlivia Harris/ReutersA woman from the Chinese community in Glasgow dressed in traditional costume to celebrate the year of the monkey in Glasgow, ScotlandJeff J Mitchell/GettyTaoist priests at Wong Tai Sin Temple on the first day of Lunar New Year holiday in Hong KongAnthony Kwan/GettyPeople makes incense offerings and pray at Wong Tai Sin Temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year Holiday in Hong KongAnthony Kwan/GettyA man lights fireworks on a street in Beijing on the eve of the Lunar New YearFred Dufour/AFPWaiters from a restaurant prepare to light fireworks on a street in Beijing on the the eve of the Lunar New YearFred Dufour/AFPA man walks past fireworks in the street outside an apartment building in Beijing after calling in the Lunar New Year, marking the start of the year of the monkeyGreg Baker/AFPA waiter from a restaurant yawns as he lights fireworks on a street in Beijing on the eve of the Lunar New YearFred Dufour/AFPPeople burn incense as they pray for good fortune at the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Wuyou temple in Leshan, Sichuan Province, ChinaReutersPeople burn incense as they pray for good fortune on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Mingjiao temple in Hefei, Anhui Province, eastern ChinaReutersA man prays in a temple decorated to celebrate Chinese New Year at Samut Prakan province outside Bangkok, ThailandJorge Silva/ReutersRevellers set off firecrackers near dragon dancers as they celebrate Chinese New Year in Manila's Chinatown, the PhilippinesErik De Castro/ReutersA mother and child watch a lion dance during Chinese New Year celebrations at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaOlivia Harris/ReutersA child runs across a temple during Chinese New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaOlivia Harris/ReutersA woman prays at a temple to celebrate Chinese New Year in Nonthaburi Province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, ThailandChaiwat Subprasom/ReutersA child holds an offering at a temple during Chinese New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaOlivia Harris/ReutersA woman prays with joss sticks at Dharma Bhakti Temple on the first day of the Chinese New Year in Jakarta, IndonesiaDarren Whiteside/ReutersPeople hold incense and pray at the Yongchegong Lama Temple in Beijing, ChinaKevin Frayer/GettyA paramilitary police officer watches over worshippers as they pray at the Yongchegong Lama Temple in Beijing, ChinaKevin Frayer/GettyPeople hold incense and pray at the Yongchegong Lama Temple in Beijing, ChinaKevin Frayer/GettyPeople light incense and pray at the Yongchegong Lama Temple in Beijing, ChinaKevin Frayer/GettyA Chinese worshipper holds incense as she prays at the Yongchegong Lama Temple in Beijing, ChinaKevin Frayer/GettyPerformers take part in a Chinese New Year parade in Hong KongLam Yik Fei/Getty ImagesA performer dressed as a monkey takes part in the 2016 Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade in Hong KongLam Yik Fei/Getty ImagesPerformers take part in a Chinese New Year parade in Hong KongLam Yik Fei/Getty ImagesPerformers dressed as monkeys take part in a Chinese New Year parade in Hong KongLam Yik Fei/Getty Images
