According to Chinese folklore, most deities on earth return to heaven on this day to report on their work. It is a perfect occasion for people to thoroughly clean their houses without worrying about offending household gods. /CGTN Photo

One day after the deities’ review, the Highest Emperor in heaven descends on earth to see for himself if every family is leading a frugal and hardworking life. To show they do, people usually have bean curd on this day. /CGTN Photo

People prefer braising the meat in a brown sauce on this day as the color was believed to suggest a prosperous life for the upcoming year. /CGTN Photo

Chinese people would wash themselves and their clothes on this day according to folk customs. It is said that taking a bath can help you get rid of bad luck and illnesses, so that you can enjoy good health in the year to come. /CGTN Photo

With the meat dish cooked, people would traditionally begin preparing staples for the upcoming Spring Festival. People in the North would knead the dough to make steamed buns, while those in the South pound glutinous rice to steam “year cake” or niangao. /CGTN Photo

One day before Spring Festival Eve, people sweep the tombs of deceased family members and burn incense and joss paper at the front doors of their houses to show respect for the ancestors and invite their spirits to spend the night. /CGTN Photo

The 30th day of La Yue marks Spring Festival Eve, when family members gather for a big reunion. Feasting on a banquet and watching the Spring Festival Gala on television have become an annual fixture for almost all Chinese. People stay up late and ring in the New Year with their loved ones. /CGTN Photo

The first month of the lunar year is called Zheng Yue. Getting up early on the first day of Zheng Yue is as much a tradition as is staying up later the night before. People pay visits to relatives and friends with gifts and auspicious messages. /CGTN Photo

In the past, married daughters would visit their parents’ houses with their husbands and children on this day. In modern times, however, it is more of a continuity of mutual visits between relatives and friends. /CGTN Photo

The 15th day of Zheng Yue marks the official end of the Spring Festival and is a festival in its own right – the Lantern Festival. At night, streets are decorated with lanterns featuring riddles waiting to be solved. Also on the menu is tangyuan, glutinous rice balls typically filled with sweet red bean paste, sesame paste or peanut butter. /CGTN Photo