Chinese celebrate The Year of Pig Tuesday Feb 05,2019

Chinese communities on Tuesday Feb 05,2019 began celebrating the Lunar New Year, an occasion for families to get together for intimate dinners and welcome the last of the Chinese zodiac's signs, the pig.

The Lunar New Year is the most important holiday of the Chinese calendar, with hundreds of millions of people travelling to celebrate it with their families in what is the world's largest annual human migration.

Celebrations in major Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, were more quiet than usual after authorities last year banned fireworks due to pollution and safety concerns

People are bidding farewell to the Year of the Dog in the 12-year Chinese astrological cycle and welcoming the Year of the Pig with hopes of happiness and good fortune.

Earlier on Tuesday, the first day of the Year of the Pig, hundreds lined up outside famous temples to burn the first joss sticks of the year, expecting it to bring them good luck.