People all across China have been holding celebrations in honor of the Lantern Festival which falls on February 19 this year. During the event, people carry lanterns to the river on festival eve, a custom that people in ancient times believed helped to keep plagues away. /VCG Photo

In China's eastern Shandong Province, a sky lantern event was held in which people wrote down their wishes, then lit a lantern and set it free into the sky, in the hope of realizing the wishes – a popular custom. /VCG Photo

In southwest China's Chongqing, a city renowned for its spicy hot-pot, a restaurant made special versions of traditional Tangyuan dessert with fillings such as chilies, mustard, mushroom and mashed shrimp, boiled and served in spicy hot pot. /VCG Photo

In southwest China's Guizhou Province, a traditional iron flower show was performed in celebration of the Lantern Festival. Performers used spoons to fling molten iron into the sky that immediately exploded into brightly glowing shards; thus the name "iron flower." The practice began as a "poor man's fireworks" but is now listed as an intangible cultural heritage. /VCG Photo

Performers in northwest China's Gansu Province taking part in Shehuo, another traditional type of entertainment once believed to bring good harvests and fortunes. Its history can be traced back to ancient worshiping rituals. /VCG Photo