Chinese New Year

An estimated 230 million passengers in China will take trains back to their hometowns this year to celebrate the Chinese New Year -- the Year of the Rabbit, which officially begins on February 3. The massive travel rush for China's biggest holiday began on January 19 and people, like these folks at a station in Beijing, waited for days and nights to get tickets home.

Standby

Chinese travelers wait at a station window in Beijing in hopes of cancellations freeing up standby tickets home.

Homeward Bound

Migrant workers sit on their luggage in Shanghai as they wait to board a train home for the Chinese New Year holiday. An estimated 250,000 to 285,000 people were expected to pass through the Shanghai Railway Station between January 30 and February 1.

Family Fun

Chinese kids in Beijing play amid New Year decorations.

Wish Wall

A couple hang their wishes for the Chinese New Year on a "wish wall" in a Beijing mall. The Chinese have traditionally written down their wishes and new year's resolutions on cards and hung them on trees in temples. This is a modern twist.

Pick a Rabbit

A woman browses stuffed rabbits - the astrological sign of the new year - at a local supermarket in Shanghai.

Ubiquitous Rabbit

Rabbits can indeed be seen virtually everywhere throughout China, even painted larger-than-life on building walls in Beijing, as the nation prepares to celebrate the dawning of a new astrological year.

"Luck"

A woman picks a red sign with the Chinese character "Luck" printed on it. Such signs are commonly seen on the front doors of Chinese homes to welcome the New Year.

Home Decor

A man decorates the door of his house in Beijing with traditional red "Luck" signs to welcome the Year of the Rabbit.

Holiday Shopping

Supermarket employees in Shanghai wear traditional red vests to mark the Chinese New Year as they work. Many supermarkets in the big cities are left short-staffed as employees make their way home for the holiday, and stores are often packed with customers, causing traffic chaos and long lines.

Temple Time

People gather at a Buddhist temple in Shanghai to celebrate the New Year with traditional Chinese performances, food and crafts.

Lanterns

Red lanterns are hung throughout Shanghai, and the rest of China, to bring good luck in the Year of the Rabbit.

Boy Rabbit

A young boy adorned with rabbit ears to mark the new year is held by a relative in Shanghai.

Cash Handout

A young boy in Hong Kong receives a red envelope full of money from his uncle. Traditionally, children and unmarried individuals are gifted such red envelopes of riches for the Chinese New Year.

Scaring Ghosts

A boy buys fireworks from a stall before New Year celebrations kick off in Shanghai. It is believed that the loud noises will scare ghosts away and bring luck in the new year.

Night of Fire

Lax regulations allow Chinese residents to set off fireworks in most residential areas.

Dangerous Blasts

This year's festivities caused two firework-related deaths and 223 injuries in Beijing alone.

Buddha's Blessing

Praying in the temples and striking the bell at midnight are said to bring good luck for the Chinese New Year. Crowds of people waited in line to get in to the Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai on New Year's Eve.

Late-Night Prayer

People pray in Shanghai's Jade Buddha Temple at 3 a.m. local time on New Years Day. The first day of the New Year is the only time in the year that temples open for 24 hours, to accommodate a massive influx of visitors.