Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations around the world -Chinaculture.org

Visitors receive handwritings of "Fu", a Chinese character meaning fortune and luck, during an event of giving away "Fu" to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year at Times Square in New York, Feb 5, 2019. New York City's Times Square became a sea of red on Tuesday as a series of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations took place here to mark the first day of the Year of the Pig. [Photo/Xinhua]

NEW YORK - New York City's Times Square became a sea of red on Tuesday as a series of Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations took place here to mark the first day of the Year of the Pig.

An array of calligraphers from both China and the United States gave away their handwritings of "Fu," a Chinese character meaning fortune and luck, and red scarfs printed with the same character to hundreds of visitors at the "Crossroad of the World" to extend Lunar New Year greetings.

People watch a shadow puppet show at the prestigious Civic Square in Helsinki, Feb 4, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

HELSINKI - A key ceremonial segment of Helsinki was converted on Monday night into a "cultural China world" in a joint celebration of the Chinese New Year by the cities of Helsinki and Beijing and the Finland-China Society.

This was the 13th time that the Chinese New Year has been celebrated out in the open in the Finnish capital, with emphasis on the outreach to Finnish population. This year the event occupied the prestigious Civic Square opposite the parliament building.

NEW YORK — The New York-based Nasdaq Stock Exchange celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year on Monday with a special bell ringing ceremony to kick off the day's trading.

On 9:30 am (1430 GMT), Huang Ping, the Chinese consul general in New York, rang the opening bell at Nasdaq on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Tuesday this year.

In a brief speech, Huang noted that the year of 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Over the past 40 years, Sino-US relations have been growing steadily, bringing tangible benefits to both peoples and the whole world.

TOKYO - As the Chinese people cheer for the Lunar New Year Eve, the iconic scenic spot of Tokyo Tower in the Japanese capital was lit up Monday evening in Chinese red as a symbol of promotion of China-Japan relations.

The famous tourist attraction was dressed in Chinese red for the first time.

Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo (Front) delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of Chinese Light Festival in Kalemegdan Park in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, on Feb 4, 2019. The Chinese Light Festival is held here from Feb 4 to Feb 24 to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. [Photo/Xinhua]

BELGRADE - The Chinese Year of the Pig was welcomed here Monday, with the opening of the Chinese Festival of Lights event in the Serbian capital.

Fireworks are displayed while people visit the Chinese Light Festival in Kalemegdan Park in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, on Feb 4, 2019. The Chinese Light Festival is held here from Feb 4 to Feb 24 to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. [Photo/Xinhua]

The light exhibition that takes place from Feb 4 to 24 at the historic Kalemegdan fortress in downtown Belgrade brought colorful light sculptures designed by Chinese artists and built by a well-known Chinese company from Sichuan province, depicting motives from Chinese folklore, animals, flowers and buildings.

Sydney celebrates Chinese Lunar New Year

Fireworks explode behind the Sydney Opera House as it glows red as part of the celebrations for the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Pig, in Sydney, Australia, Feb 4, 2019. [Photo/IC]

Participants eat dumplings, or jiaozi, in an event to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in Sydney, Feb 5, 2019. A total of 764 people took part in the event, creating a new Guinness record for the number of people eating dumplings at the same time at the same place. The previous record was 750 in 2013 in Melbourne. [Photo/chinanews.com]

Empire State Building in NY lit up in red

The Empire State Building is illuminated in red in celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Feb 4, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

The residence of the mayor of Dublin, capital of Ireland, is lit up in red, Feb 3, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

BRUSSELS - With red lantern raised, Chinese couplets pasted and lion-dance performed, Chinese Lunar New Year is being celebrated across the continent.

In the streets of several European cities, performance such as dragon and lion dances and Tai Chi drew in huge crowds of people, mirroring a growing interest in Chinese culture among European people.

Performers pose for a photo in front of the London Eye, which is illuminated in red in celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Feb 4, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

World's tallest building displays light show to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year in UAE

Light show is seen at Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in Downtown Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Feb 4, 2019. The Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Feb 5 this year. [Photo/Xinhua]

Ancient castle in Egypt lit up in red

The citadel of Salah Ed-Din, the landmark castle in Cairo, is decorated with red lights to celebrate China's Lunar New Year, Jan 28, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Lunar New Year celebration held in Chinatown of Yangon, Myanmar

A boy sits on his father's shoulders as they walk under lanterns during the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in the Chinatown of Yangon, Myanmar, Feb 4, 2019 . The Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Feb 5 this year. [Photo/Xinhua]

People pray at a temple during the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in the Chinatown of Yangon, Myanmar, Feb 4, 2019 . The Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Feb 5 this year. [Photo/Xinhua]

Malaysia's Paloh greets Chinese Lunar New Year

Local people offer prayers to greet the Chinese Lunar New Year in Paloh, Johor, Malaysia, Feb 5, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

Fireworks are seen to mark the Chinese Lunar New Year in Paloh, Johor, Malaysia, Feb 5, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]