Lunar New Year in Beijing was welcomed with a bang, as crowds gathered at the historical Houhai Lake to join in the celebration.
No licenses are required to buy and use fireworks in Beijing and many take to the street to set off displays as way to traditionally welcome the New Year, as well as ward off evil spirits and usher in good luck.
A range of fireworks can be bought from street-side vendors or online for as little as four dollars.
Security forces and police kept close watch as crowds gathered to watch and participate in the hundreds of fireworks being set off by the lake, scene was mimicked in residential areas all across the city.
But despite the spectacle, state media reports that fireworks sales in the capital are actually down by 32% this year.
Since last year the government has moved to discourage the use of fireworks in order to prevent fire-works related smog, lessen noise and also lessen the amount of rubbish left behind.
The period in which fireworks can be sold in Beijing was shorted from 21 to 11 days, while fireworks can now only be used from 7am to midnight.
Meanwhile dancers and performers from China’s Shaanxi Province have brought their traditional art forms to Australian audiences.
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It is the third straight year the performers have come to Australia to mark the start of Lunar New Year.
Chinese trumpet player Yang Xiao Xian has told SBS she is very proud to showcase her traditional talents here.
"I'm very happy that I could bring our celebrations here to Australia, and to perform for the Australian people,” she said.
“I'm very glad the Australian people have joined us to celebrate Chinese New Year."
Zhao Xiao Qiang from the Shaanxi Province Department of Culture said the delegation will continue to come to our shores.
"We want the Australian people to have a brief understanding of how we chinese people celebrate the biggest holiday, the biggest festival, of China," he told SBS.
A colourful drumming display atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge brought the year of the Monkey to life over the weekend, while federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was on hand to help light up the Opera House.
Today, a street parade echoed throughout Sydney's Chinatown.
The city's Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, handed out Lai see - red envelopes filled with coins - a traditional Lunar New Year gift.
Ms Moore told SBS it is a tradition she has undertaken since she first became Lord Mayor in 2004.
"I think it's well known right across China that we do the biggest and the best celebration outside of Asia," Ms Moore said.
"It is an opportunity for our wider multicultural community to learn about Chinese culture and Asian culture."
Lunar New Year is an extremely significant period for Australia's strong Chinese community, as well as the more than one million people from China who pass through the country every year.
But it's not just the Chinese who are joining in on the festivities.
"It's very exciting. Very nice, very beautiful, very colourful," said a husband and wife visiting from Saudi Arabia.
"I like the music, the sound of the music," another tourist from Germany explained.
Sydney City Councillor Robert Kok, who has Chinese origins, said mixing oriental and Australian cultures is an important combination for him.
"We the Chinese community are very very proud and honoured to be able to share our most important cultural day with all Australians," Councillor Kok said.
Celebrations will roll until the end of the month.
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