China marks traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food
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Chinese dancers perform a dragon dance in the fireworks to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Yongchuan district in south-west China's Chongqing Municipality, on Saturday, Feb 23, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AP
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Chinese dancers perform a dragon dance in the fireworks to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Yongchuan district in south-west China's Chongqing Municipality, on Saturday, Feb 23, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AP
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Folk artists wearing masks wait for their turn to give a performance on the street to celebrate the Lantern Festival on the outskirts of Wuhan, Hubei province, on Feb 24, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Chinese entertainers are watched by a large crowd as they perform a snake dance during the traditional Lantern Festival parade which falls on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and officially marks the end of celebrations in Yuxian on Feb 24, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A girl points to a lantern as she was carried by her grandmother at a market in Confucian Temple of Nanjing, Jiangsu province, on Feb 22, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, actors perform waist drum dance in Ansai County of Yan'an City, north-west China's Shaanxi province, on Friday, Feb 22, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AP / XINHUA
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In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, actors perform waist drum dance in Ansai County of Yan'an City, north-west China's Shaanxi province, on Friday, Feb 22, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AP / XINHUA
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Chinese men release a paper lantern into the sky on the eve of the traditional Lantern Festival which falls on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and officially ends the celebrations, in Yuxian, on Feb 23, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Chinese men walk beneath lanterns as the city prepares for the traditional Lantern Festival which falls on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and officially ends the celebrations, in Beijing, on Feb 21, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Chinese men smoke while walking beneath lanterns as the city prepares for the traditional Lantern Festival which falls on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and officially ends the celebrations, in Beijing, on Feb 21, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. - PHOTO: AFP
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In a photo taken on Feb 22, 2013, people walk past a lantern display in Beijing. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AFP
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In a photo taken on Feb 22, 2013, a woman poses for photos next to a lantern display in Beijing. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AFP
Chinese dancers perform a dragon dance in the fireworks to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Yongchuan district in south-west China's Chongqing Municipality, on Saturday, Feb 23, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AP
Chinese dancers perform a dragon dance in the fireworks to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Yongchuan district in south-west China's Chongqing Municipality, on Saturday, Feb 23, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AP
Folk artists wearing masks wait for their turn to give a performance on the street to celebrate the Lantern Festival on the outskirts of Wuhan, Hubei province, on Feb 24, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Chinese entertainers are watched by a large crowd as they perform a snake dance during the traditional Lantern Festival parade which falls on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and officially marks the end of celebrations in Yuxian on Feb 24, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AFP
A girl points to a lantern as she was carried by her grandmother at a market in Confucian Temple of Nanjing, Jiangsu province, on Feb 22, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, actors perform waist drum dance in Ansai County of Yan'an City, north-west China's Shaanxi province, on Friday, Feb 22, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AP / XINHUA
In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, actors perform waist drum dance in Ansai County of Yan'an City, north-west China's Shaanxi province, on Friday, Feb 22, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AP / XINHUA
Chinese men release a paper lantern into the sky on the eve of the traditional Lantern Festival which falls on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and officially ends the celebrations, in Yuxian, on Feb 23, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AFP
Chinese men walk beneath lanterns as the city prepares for the traditional Lantern Festival which falls on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and officially ends the celebrations, in Beijing, on Feb 21, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AFP
Chinese men smoke while walking beneath lanterns as the city prepares for the traditional Lantern Festival which falls on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and officially ends the celebrations, in Beijing, on Feb 21, 2013. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. - PHOTO: AFP
In a photo taken on Feb 22, 2013, people walk past a lantern display in Beijing. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AFP
In a photo taken on Feb 22, 2013, a woman poses for photos next to a lantern display in Beijing. China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country. -- PHOTO: AFP
SHANGHAI (AFP) - China on Sunday celebrated the traditional Lantern Festival with fireworks and food, as millions of migrant workers flowed back to cities and smog blanketed a large part of the country.
The Lantern Festival formally marks the end of celebrations for the Chinese New Year period, 15 days after it began, and is celebrated by viewing lanterns and setting off fireworks, among other activities.
The Ministry of Railways estimated around 6.4 million people would make trains journeys on Sunday.
Many of China's migrant workers living in rural areas delay their return to their workplaces beyond the official public holiday, which lasts only a week.
