Today marks the start of the Chinese New year. It officially began at midnight with people lighting firecrackers.

Today's most important tradition is visiting the eldest family members - who usually hand out red envelopes of money to the younger generations with best wishes. Many traditional shows are put on, including dragon dances and imperial performances. Temple fairs and lantern shows are among the popular celebrations in many cities across China. The Spring Festival Gala broadcast nationwide on New Year's Eve was watched by more than 1 billion Chinese as they counted down to the Year of the Dog - the television program will be one of the most popular topics during the holiday.