Countries around the world have played host to lively celebrations to welcome the arrival of the Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival.
Chinese New Year's Day, which falls on Feb 17 this year, marks the start of the Year of the Horse, the seventh of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.
In Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown, colorful murals, zodiac displays and festive installations are drawing large crowds, especially with the big influx of visitors from China to Malaysia during the holiday season.
"We think Malaysia pays top attention to this festival. It's very good. Families here can enjoy the festival together and it is very happiness," said Elaine Zhang, a Chinese tourist.
"In town, everybody is excited it looks - at the mall, here. It's beautiful. I am taking a zillion pictures. It's very exciting I think," said Anael Pichon, a French tourist.
"This is my first time in Malaysia. I didn't expect the New Year atmosphere to be so strong here. My whole family is having a wonderful time," said Shao Weibing, another Chinese tourist.
The country's big malls are lavishly decorated with Chinese New Year decorations and are hosting lion dance or dragon dance performances as well as festive drum performances.
In Peru, people in capital city Lima are also celebrating the festival at the local Chinatown.
The area is where Chinese people first settled when they arrived in Lima's city center 175 years ago.
It is also home to the earliest established Chinese restaurants, known as "CHIFAS," and remains a place where Chinese residents purchase traditional Chinese vegetables and other ingredients for festive meals.
According to a local fortune teller, there are deep cultural ties and spiritual significance in the celebration.
"The Peruvian public is very mystical and esoteric. They were born under the sign of the serpent, are very intelligent, enjoy rituals, and are closely linked to Chinese culture, as the Orientals arrived here more than 175 years ago," said Francisco Choy, a practitioner of Oriental fortune telling.
"It is practically a double-fire horse and will bring about a transformation. It will help us humans to reset our energy and our path, and it will be very auspicious for all signs of the Chinese zodiac," said Francisco Choy.
The "double-fire horse" refers to the Year of the Horse in 2026, when both the heavenly stem and earthly branch of the ancient Chinese astronomical calendar belong to the fire element, creating a rare double-fire combination that occurs once every 60 years and symbolizes intensified energy and transformation.
Vibrant Spring Festival celebrations light up Malaysia, Peru
