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Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Thursday 30 January 2014 14:58 GMT

Young cultural ambassadors from Beijing dressed in traditional clothes pose for pictures during a photocall in the heart of London's Chinatown ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

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1/40In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

UK

Young cultural ambassadors from Beijing dressed in traditional clothes pose for pictures during a photocall in the heart of London's Chinatown ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Hong Kong

Performers take part in a Chinese New Year parade in Hong Kong. Chinese communities across Asia have come together to usher in the Year of the Horse

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Hong Kong

Performers get ready before the start of a Chinese New Year parade in Hong Kong

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Hong Kong

Performers display a dragon dance during a Chinese New Year parade in Hong Kong

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Hong Kong

Performers chat before the start of a Chinese New Year parade in Hong Kong

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Hong Kong

Performers dance at the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade in Hong Kong

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

Dancers perform a fire dragon dance in the shower of molten iron spewing firework-like sparks during a folk art performance to celebrate the traditional Chinese Spring Festival on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which welcomes the Year of the Horse, at the Happy Valley amusement park in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

Folk dancers huddled together during cold weather as they prepared for their performance on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which welcomes the Year of the Horse, at the Longtan park in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

Worshippers burn incense to pray for good fortune on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which welcomes the Year of the Horse, at Dafo temple in Chongqing municipality

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

Chinese worshippers burn joss sticks at the Dongyue Temple in the hope that it brings them prosperity and good fortune for the Year of the Horse in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

A vendor sells artificial flowers and apples, popularly used as decorations, on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at the Longtan park in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

A performer exhibiting his skills in strength stretches a bow fortified with high tension cables during an entertainment segments for visitors to a temple park to mark the Lunar New Year in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Bali, Indonesia

An Indonesian ethnic Chinese man lights incense as he prays during Chinese New Year celebrations at a temple in Kuta

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Bali, Indonesia

People hold incense sticks as they attend prayers during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The horse at Bahtara Sasana Temple in Denpasar

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Bali, Indonesia

A Balinese woman holds incense sticks as she attends prayers during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The horse at Dwipayana Tanah Kilap Temple in Denpasar

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Bali, Indonesia

Two kids hold incense sticks as they attend prayers during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The horse at Satya Dharma Temple in Denpasar

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Bali, Indonesia

A woman with her children hold incense sticks as they attends prayers during Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of The horse at Satya Dharma Temple in Denpasar

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Indonesia

A Chinese opera performer prepares backstage before The Beauty of China Opera show at Pakuwon Bllroom in Surabaya

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Indonesia

Actors perform on stage during The Beauty of China Opera show at Pakuwon Ballroom in Surabaya

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Thailand

Three young children pose for the camera in traditional costume in Chinatown in Bangkok

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

The horse toys are seen at a game area of the Spring Festival Temple Fair for celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse at the Temple of Earth park in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

Preparations for the Year of the Horse celebrations start ahead of the last day of January

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

Performers in traditional costume entertain visitors on the evening of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at a park fair in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

A clown performs at the Spring Festival Temple Fair for celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse at the Temple of Earth park in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

A man pulls ribbons from his mouth as he performs a feat of his strength during the opening of the temple fair for Chinese New Year celebrations at Ditan Park, also known as the Temple of Earth, in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

A performer in traditional costume entertain visitors on the evening of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at a park fair in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

Performers do the horse dance on the evening of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at a park fair in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

A performer gets ready for his performance on the evening of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at a park fair in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

A Chinese family pose for photos with a folk artist at the Spring Festival Temple Fair for celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse at the Temple of Earth park in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

Chinese folk artists perform during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair at the Temple of Earth park in Beijing

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

China

The Chinese Lunar New Year of Horse 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 Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Bali, Indonesia

People take part in a dragon dance parade one day before the Lunar new year of the horse in Kuta on Bali

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Cambodia

People pray in a temple in Phnom Penh

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Cambodia

Lion dancers prepare to perform in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Hong Kong

People stand under the lanterns displayed for the Lunar New Year as China prepares for the Year of the Horse at Wet Kowloon waterfront promenade in Hong Kong

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Indonesia

People pray at a temple in Jakarta's China town ahead the upcoming Lunar New Year Year of the Horse

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Indonesia

An elderly woman waits for customers at her shop that sells Chinese New Year decorations in Makassar

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Philippines

A Filipino group performs a lion dance on the evening of the Chinese New Year in Manila Ocean Park

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Philippines

A saleswoman holds Chinese lanterns for a customer in front of a department store on the evening of Chinese New Year at Manila's Chinatown district of Binondo

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2014 - Year of the Horse celebrations

Philippines

Customers choose from various good luck charms sold during the evening of the Chinese New Year in Manila's Chinatown

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