Around the world, people ring in the The Year of the Rooster
Saturday marks the Lunar New Year for Chinese and other East Asian communities
Incense and prayers
In China, people are lighting incense sticks and praying at temples to wish for an auspicious start to the Year of the Rooster.
Thousands visited Beijing's major temples on Saturday, the first day of the new year. Wearing heavy winter coats, they lit incense sticks and bowed as they prayed for good fortune and health.
As many as 80,000 people were expected at the Lama Temple in central Beijing, state television reported.
Colourful festival in Beijing
Beijing's sprawling spring festival temple fair opened at Ditan Park, where empty tree branches were festooned with red lanterns and traditional goods and foods were for sale. Other New Year's traditions include the eating of dumplings in northern China and the lighting of fireworks.
Beijing's government called on Communist Party cadres and government staff not to set off firecrackers due to environmental concerns, but local media reported air pollution levels in Beijing and several other cities still shot up Friday night and early Saturday morning.
Worldwide celebrations
Ethnic Chinese and others around the world also marked the holiday with celebrations and visits to temples. Children and even newborn babies were decked out in face paint and rooster costumes.
Large crowds gathered in Hong Kong.
People paraded in the streets of Manilla, Philippines.
Below, a dancer peers through a lion's head during celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand.
In Rio de Janeiro, crowds watched a dragon dance and a performance of tai chi. The city's famous Christ the Redeemer was illuminated in red.
New York brought in the holiday with fireworks Thursday night over the Hudson River, followed by Saturday celebrations in Manhattan's Chinatown.
There were celebrations across Canada, including Montreal, Edmonton, Ottawa, Vancouver and Windsor, Ont.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued statements to Canada's Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese communities to mark the event.
"On behalf of our family, Sophie and I wish all those marking this occasion a very happy New Year," he said.
With files from CBC News