Chinese welcomed the arrival of the Year of the Snake with raucous celebrations. According to the Chinese Lunar calendar, 2013 marks the year of the snake and began on February 10th. In Singapore, photographer Choo Yut Shing took this fantastic overheard capture of a snake lantern sculpture made from 850 yellow sky lanterns.
The snake stretches about 300 meters (984.5 ft) from the junction of Upper Cross Street and South Bridge Road to Sago Street in Singapore’s Chinatown district.
Residents of Beijing braved freezing temperatures to let off brightly coloured fireworks, with clouds of smoke in the air, red wrappings from firecrackers covering streets and explosions rattling windows.
A plea by the government to set off fewer fireworks to help deal with Beijing's notorious air pollution seemed to fall on deaf ears.
"Every year we set off fireworks and this year will be no different," said Lao Guo, 45, a convenience store worker.
"People won't not set them off because of pollution. It's the custom."
Firecrackers are believed to scare off evil spirits and entice the god of wealth to people's doorsteps once New Year's Day arrives.