The Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first Chinese lunar month, and traditionally ends the Chinese New Year period. Without exaggeration, this is one of the most colorful events of the country.
After sunset, real wonders start happening on the streets of China. For example, the lion and dragon dances.
There are many legends about how there was a tradition to celebrate this holiday. It is only known that it became a state one in the second century BC.
Over the centuries, the main symbol of this event are the glowing paper lanterns. A huge amount of them is launched into the air, or sent above the water.
Fireworks and firecrackers have also become an integral part of the holiday - a lot of the Chinese believe that with the help of pyrotechnics you can ward off bad luck.
The Fire Rooster is the main animal of 2017. It symbolizes youth, purity, hope and strength.
Year after year, each Chinese province strives to surpass another one in scale of celebration.
A key character of any Chinese festival is the dragon. Dragon in China is considered a sacred animal, so there are 2 types of lights in its honor - with its picture or the one that imitates its shape.
In the photo: a fragment of a festive show in Beijing.