Chinese New Year, 2011

The Lunar New Year, or more accurately the lunisolar new year, began February 3 and in most countries that celebrate it ushered in the Year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese zodiac. In China Lunar New Year is the most important date on the calendar and triggers over a month of holiday travel which is often described as the largest annual human migration in the world. Hundreds of millions tax the transport system. The new year also marks the beginning of the Spring Festival in China which continues until the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day. Lunar New Year is celebrated in many countries, with many different traditions as well. Gathered here are pictures of China's travel wave and celebrations, as well as pictures from other countries' Lunar New Year observations. -- Lane Turner (40 photos total)

An artist performs at Xuanwu Lake Park to greet the Chinese New Year February 2, 2011 in Nanjing, China. (ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)

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163 comments so far...

# 29

Gold/diamond cake: Ridiculous

Posted by etienne February 7, 11 01:43 PM

#24 - Someone pass the butter!

Posted by Phil February 7, 11 01:49 PM

沙发

Posted by 沙发 February 7, 11 01:49 PM

#24 is amazing!

Posted by Anonymous February 7, 11 01:50 PM

wonderful pictures, thanks

Posted by aibaa February 7, 11 01:56 PM

These pictures are really amazing.

Thanks!

Posted by Arnaldo González February 7, 11 01:57 PM

Nice Pic, I miss China, I miss my mom and dad.

Posted by Andy February 7, 11 01:58 PM

isn't 24 gorgeous!!

Posted by syoutenga February 7, 11 02:00 PM

wow, nice pix

Posted by Nathan February 7, 11 02:03 PM

10.

Kung hei fat soi!

Posted by elmo February 7, 11 02:08 PM

11.

There's a lot of people in China.

Posted by The Truth February 7, 11 02:09 PM

12.

祝大家新年快乐！
Wish everyone a happy new year!

#16 is hilarious!

Posted by woodear February 7, 11 02:12 PM

13.

#16 is so funny =)

Posted by Eden February 7, 11 02:13 PM

14.

Great. Guess they had an eventful New Year 2011. Amazing pictures. They show that we're all native humans all over the globe. Won't believe in crucial differences anymore after having seen so many impressive documentary photos on this website. One can differ between ideologies, but not between humans. Thanks so much!

Posted by Mika February 7, 11 02:14 PM

15.

Looks a bit like the year of the Playboy Bunny! :-)

Happy New Year!

Posted by Heinz February 7, 11 02:17 PM

16.

Great selection. As always.

Posted by Martín Sánchez February 7, 11 02:19 PM

17.

借用宝地。
祝我的爸爸、妈妈、爷爷、奶奶、弟弟和妹妹身体健康，春节快乐。——来自远在外地的儿子。

Posted by 游子 February 7, 11 02:23 PM

18.

So beautiful and heartfelt.

Posted by Yoli February 7, 11 02:27 PM

19.

They're all amazing as usual. But number 5 is truly awesome:-)

Posted by Ron Engelbert February 7, 11 02:31 PM

20.

Beautiful people-packed China pictures! Best of luck and prosperity to all the chinese citizens!

Posted by Jeffo February 7, 11 02:34 PM

21.

#24 is an amazing photo.

Posted by dudi February 7, 11 02:36 PM

22.

third

#18 is awesome.

Posted by samuel February 7, 11 02:43 PM

23.

nice set, Boston's celebration is Feb 13th in Chinatown...won't be quite as ornate, but should be fun nonetheless.

Posted by Chris February 7, 11 02:50 PM

24.

竟然是沙发！

Posted by asill February 7, 11 02:59 PM

25.

#24 is awesome

Posted by goldmund February 7, 11 03:00 PM

26.

Chunjie kuaile!

Posted by quete February 7, 11 03:15 PM

27.

#24 just looks incredibly nice. :-)

And for a moment I was reminded of 'Donnie Darko', when looking at #16.

All in all, great photos, and a Happy New Year! :-)

Posted by FermatSim February 7, 11 03:28 PM

28.

恭喜發財

Posted by Anonymous February 7, 11 04:04 PM

29.

These pictures are hopping GOOD! They give one good insight into the lives of the Oriental people.

Posted by Karate Dave February 7, 11 04:09 PM

30.

All photos are great as usual. But #9, OMG, it's breathtaking!

Posted by Pouya February 7, 11 04:13 PM

31.

Hermoso! Es de admirar la cultura y la historia, simplemente espectacular!

Posted by Marcela February 7, 11 04:15 PM

32.

very nice photos

Posted by parimal soni February 7, 11 04:28 PM

33.

Awesome #24, the looooooooooooong table.

Posted by Yi February 7, 11 04:30 PM

34.

#26 is my favorite

Posted by redditor February 7, 11 04:31 PM

35.

superbe !!!

Posted by Francky21 February 7, 11 04:47 PM

36.

Finally I saw some vertical photos in big picture.

Posted by peter February 7, 11 05:02 PM

37.

Picture 18 had me rolling! I've never seen so many rabbits do the gangster lean at once!

Posted by Anonymous February 7, 11 05:07 PM

38.

The travel pictures and #24 remind me of Thanksgiving in the US. 新年快樂

Posted by ech February 7, 11 06:01 PM

39.

Superbes photos.. Merci

Posted by Isa. February 7, 11 06:36 PM

40.

#21 is a woman.

Posted by William February 7, 11 07:09 PM

41.

兔年吉祥

Posted by 丕子 February 7, 11 07:53 PM

42.

新年快乐！恭喜发财。

Posted by Sunding Hsie February 7, 11 08:54 PM

43.

新年快樂 from Singapore!!

Posted by Zin February 7, 11 08:55 PM

44.

新年快樂！

Posted by Harvey February 7, 11 09:46 PM

45.

Love it! #5 is amazing!

Posted by Kitty February 7, 11 10:33 PM

46.

Nice chosen pics that sketched the face of China.

Posted by Bird February 7, 11 10:38 PM

47.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!! :D

Posted by manunk February 7, 11 10:51 PM

48.

Frohes neues Jahr... super schöne Fotos!

Posted by Anonymous February 7, 11 11:02 PM

49.

Super schöne Fotos....

Posted by Yu February 7, 11 11:03 PM

50.

Nice shot~ 新年快乐

Posted by Alex February 7, 11 11:05 PM

51.

新年快乐！恭喜发财！大展宏兔！~~

Posted by ITEATEA February 7, 11 11:14 PM

52.

Happy Lunar New Year!
新年快乐

Posted by muscake February 7, 11 11:30 PM

53.

No Hong Kong photos of the celebrations? Amazing pics!

Posted by Migo February 7, 11 11:39 PM

54.

Nice shot~ 新年快乐

Posted by Anonymous February 7, 11 11:47 PM

55.

新年快乐！～

Posted by EE February 8, 11 12:14 AM

56.

朴实，谢谢摄影师

Posted by ZENG GE February 8, 11 12:15 AM

57.

24楼的，不是沙发了。。别太激动。。

Posted by jaylin February 8, 11 12:28 AM

58.

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Happy year of the Rabbit to all Chinese people!
#24, now that's what I call a community.
#29, If you have money, why not! Personally it's a bit extravagant but hey, not my money!
It's amazing to see pictures of hundreds of million of Chinese traveling back home to be with their families. It's true that the home is where the heart is or hearth?

Posted by J.S> February 8, 11 12:31 AM

59.

@12 Love the Fireworks with city landscape.

Posted by b-OBBY February 8, 11 12:34 AM

60.

nice pics!!!!!

Posted by kelsi February 8, 11 12:46 AM

61.

Looking at the pics one get a feeling that Chinese are quite religious, It is not like that okay.

Posted by arun February 8, 11 12:58 AM

62.

Китай форева)

Posted by x11 February 8, 11 01:45 AM

63.

superb...........

Posted by Praveena February 8, 11 02:13 AM

64.

Of all the pictures, no.25 caught my attention. Its heart breaking and sad.

Posted by Mock February 8, 11 02:16 AM

65.

震撼，感动！
祝全球中国人：鸿"兔"大展，恭喜发财！

Posted by Chonghai February 8, 11 02:20 AM

66.

Encore de très belles images, propices au rêve

Posted by chris February 8, 11 03:02 AM

67.

17:

Posted by Ann February 8, 11 03:12 AM

68.

大吉大利恭喜发财 Happy Chinese New Year

Posted by ic February 8, 11 03:13 AM

69.

新年快樂恭喜發財鴻兔大展

Posted by 老崔 February 8, 11 03:49 AM

70.

RT @sabrinaden: 所谓的春节就是吃吃喝喝，更体会上帝在圣经里的宣告：《腓立比书 3.19》他们的结局就是沉沦；他们的神就是自己的肚腹。他们以自己的羞辱为荣耀，专以地上的事为念。

Posted by tartar12 February 8, 11 04:30 AM

71.

Amazing photos! #24 is heart-warming. Thanks for sharing what it's like celebrating CNY in China.

Gong Xi Fa Cai from an ethnic Chinese in Kuala Lumpur!

Posted by Happysurfer February 8, 11 04:33 AM

72.

新年快乐~大家吃嘛嘛香,干嘛嘛成!

Posted by thexuan February 8, 11 04:35 AM

73.

#16 is so funny :D

Posted by kim February 8, 11 05:06 AM

74.

Best wishes to Chinese people!

Posted by Reto February 8, 11 05:12 AM

75.

新年快乐！照片很棒

Posted by bo7wan February 8, 11 05:18 AM

76.

so many good pic.

Posted by Anonymous February 8, 11 05:25 AM

77.

so many good pic.

Posted by Elvin February 8, 11 05:25 AM

78.

Awesome... wunderbar....gyonyoru

Posted by Iren Rakosa February 8, 11 05:35 AM

79.

your photos can make you feel the emotions of people..fantastic!

Posted by Martina February 8, 11 05:51 AM

80.

xin nien quai le!
belle foto.
foto metadata?

Posted by Matteo February 8, 11 06:01 AM

81.

bagus banget

Posted by sella February 8, 11 06:26 AM

82.

So much more I need to learn about China

Posted by Anonymous February 8, 11 06:51 AM

83.

新年快乐。。。。。

Posted by johnny February 8, 11 07:14 AM

84.

wish you happy

Posted by lyn February 8, 11 07:42 AM

85.

Very good pics
Happy New Chinese Year

Posted by Anonymous February 8, 11 07:54 AM

86.

Outstanding photos!!! Although #1 through #10 remind me of my daily commute.........

Posted by omaha February 8, 11 08:08 AM

87.

great pictures.

Posted by Anonymous February 8, 11 08:30 AM

88.

那啥，祝我新年快乐

Posted by rui7rui February 8, 11 08:53 AM

89.

All are very nice snaps. Everyday i am waiting new snap in boston.com. We can see the world by one window.

Posted by Tarun Kumar February 8, 11 08:55 AM

90.

Happy Chinese New Year!
I wonder why no one point out the mistakes?
1. Chinese New Year 2011 began on February 3.
2. In photo 37 the workers steam Chinese New Year's cakes, not mooncakes.

Posted by Han Keat Lim February 8, 11 09:02 AM

91.

#24 is great

Posted by Edgar February 8, 11 09:25 AM

92.

#24 is nice.

Posted by gza February 8, 11 09:47 AM

93.

Really like the #24 photo. Such a neat efforts to capture the event and the surroundings. Gives a taste of life in southwest china village.

Posted by KS February 8, 11 09:56 AM

94.

magnifiques images, bonne et heureuse année du lapin

Posted by balcon fanny February 8, 11 10:23 AM

95.

새해 福 많이 받으세요^^

Posted by 홍길동 February 8, 11 10:32 AM

96.

excellent selection. my favourite is #19.

Posted by coke February 8, 11 01:52 PM

97.

Excellent photos, Happy Chinese New Year. Gung Hay Fat Choi

Posted by Hank February 8, 11 02:41 PM

98.

Nice photos.
I would prefer if you would call it Lunar New Year instead of Chinese New Year. It's not just the Chinese people who celebrate the new year day of the lunar calendar. The Vietnamese, Korean, and other Asian ethnic groups do as well. Especially this year when the zodiac signs are different for different culture. For example, he Vietnamese people celebrate the year of the Cat instead of the year of the Rabbit.

So to make it transparent to include many cultures, I think it is more appropriate to refer this celebration as the Lunar New Year celebration.

Posted by San Nguyen February 8, 11 04:08 PM

99.

do you eat the diamond in # 29 or just the gold?

Posted by Jaytorade February 8, 11 04:53 PM

100.

awesome, 24 is epic.

Posted by me February 8, 11 05:22 PM

101.

I really love @24 it's very good photo.

Thank you.

Posted by Purohit February 8, 11 05:38 PM

102.

# 24 just incredible

Posted by Diego February 8, 11 06:55 PM

103.

'Kung Hei Fat Choi! Kiong Hee Huat Tsai!
Wonderful pictures! I love it!
#24 community meal and even tourist are invited. Wow! That's really nice!
Comment #90: I think because most of us are unfamiliar with Chinese ways, specially regional customs. I can't tell whether they are steaming moon cakes or rice cakes. They taste OK, a bit of a strange texture to a western palate.
#32, wow! I hate to be claustrophobic and be jostling for position. If you are a pickpocket, this would be a really good opportunity.

Posted by Stephen D February 8, 11 07:09 PM

104.

How come the series starts with a whole bunch of photos of people traveling?
It would be like a starting a thanksgiving photo-series with 10 pictures of people in cars stuck on the highway...

Posted by Barak February 8, 11 07:43 PM

105.

恭喜发财，红包拿来！呵呵。

Posted by yaya February 8, 11 08:29 PM

106.

第二十一张图是个女孩吧

Posted by fsajlke February 8, 11 08:35 PM

107.

24 is simply amazing.
It reminds me of my trip there last year!

Posted by Mabel February 8, 11 09:46 PM

108.

祝在美国的亲人们，朋友们新年快乐！万事如意！兔年吉祥！

Posted by 老灯 February 9, 11 12:36 AM

109.

Wonderful Image :)

Posted by HEAVTMETAL February 9, 11 12:55 AM

110.

#37 - mooncakes? Thought moon cakes are for Mid-autumn festival?
and "Nian Gao" sticky cakes are for the Lunar New Year?

Posted by Chris February 9, 11 01:45 AM

111.

May you have a great Golden Rabbit year.
Because every 60 Chinese year cycle there are 5 Rabbit years. This one we have this year is a golden Rabbit which means a very prosper year.
Wish you catch the GOLDEN RABBIT.

Posted by dan February 9, 11 01:51 AM

112.

amazing pictures!

Posted by Aira February 9, 11 02:16 AM

113.

Very nice indeed....Missing china!!!

Posted by deepak February 9, 11 04:16 AM

114.

nice photos, remind me of the soviet celebrations...

Posted by usa February 9, 11 04:36 AM

115.

新年恭喜!一切平安!

Posted by CLC February 9, 11 06:39 AM

116.

Great shots.
If anyone is interested I've put some shots up of the celebrations in Chinatown in Sydney Australia, check them out at www.hughca.com

Posted by Hugh February 9, 11 06:41 AM

117.

Thanks for posting they made me happy, made me smile and feel hopeful for 2011!
Hop Hop Hop!

Posted by Ginnette P February 9, 11 10:28 PM

118.

拍的很漂亮啊，打酱油的不甘心默默路过…………

Posted by Leona February 9, 11 10:58 PM

119.

Such beautiful and positive pictures! Thank you for sharing them with us.

Posted by Christina February 9, 11 11:54 PM

120.

Wow! that is amazing!

Posted by Bob Z. February 10, 11 12:17 AM

121.

祝我爸爸妈妈身体健康~平平安安

Posted by 娜娜 February 10, 11 12:45 AM

122.

70楼是大煞笔

Posted by Anonymous February 10, 11 12:52 AM

123.

恭祝大家兔年吉祥如意！

Posted by Anonymous February 10, 11 01:20 AM

124.

祝海内外华人新年快乐，万事如意！

Posted by Daniel @ Beijing February 10, 11 02:35 AM

125.

really funny how the white culture sees china, the only picture shows are the rail stations not the airport, some town street,Only the ethnic pictures, showing the villages of china, When the Europe celebrate the new year you got see those city view firework, well, the DEVEloped country.

Posted by third world February 10, 11 02:35 AM

126.

I'm in awe. Incredible photos for an incredible experience.

Posted by Kelsi February 10, 11 03:16 AM

127.

love the pics!!

Happy Lunar Chinese New Year!

Posted by noipe February 10, 11 03:30 AM

128.

Absolutely beautiful Thanks for sharing.

Posted by Steve 斯蒂夫 February 10, 11 05:56 AM

129.

恭喜发财

Posted by 爷们 February 10, 11 05:59 AM

130.

過年好！

Posted by 張旭 February 10, 11 09:34 AM

131.

Wow, it's really amazing and very touching, HAPPY LUNAR YEAR !
Keep healthy everybody and take care, GBU all!

Posted by A.S.T.J-L February 10, 11 09:38 AM

132.

祝大家新年快乐，万事如意。

Posted by bobo February 10, 11 09:39 AM

133.

happy chinese new year!!

Posted by p.s. February 10, 11 11:17 AM

134.

祝大家兔年大吉!

Posted by lau February 10, 11 11:37 AM

135.

Fantastic

Posted by vini13 February 11, 11 12:57 AM

136.

兔年吉祥！

Posted by Anonymous February 11, 11 08:28 AM

137.

25 says more than all the other ones

Posted by Ruben February 11, 11 08:32 AM

138.

Happy belated Chinese New Year ..
Wishing all the best.....

Posted by Marusli February 11, 11 09:42 AM

139.

Great photos.

Posted by hisham February 12, 11 10:28 AM

140.

Great Photographs !

Photo 29..Some eat 24k Gold leaf while so many starve.

Posted by Becks February 12, 11 12:00 PM

141.

新年快乐，恭喜发财

Posted by Anonymous February 12, 11 09:13 PM

142.

Note to Editor, I think it's a bit careless to leave the caption on photo 33 as "A vendor shouts out to customers at a Chinese New Year market in Taipei January 30, 2011."

as the location is much more significant than just a regular street market. It is Dihua Jie and this market in particular is only available during the days leading up the lunar new year.

Aside from captions being too sparse on information, I have to say I really enjoy The Big Picture!

Posted by Eric J February 13, 11 06:18 AM

143.

So much beauty. Hope this is a prosperous and healthy year for everyone.

Posted by Rui February 13, 11 07:51 PM

144.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

Posted by LAU February 13, 11 08:41 PM

145.

AMAZING...PHOTOGRAPHS..... INDEED

Posted by SAM February 14, 11 06:01 AM

146.

I still think there should be more nice places or nice scenery to show the Chinese New year! anyway, Happy New Year to all who celebrate Chinese New year! Wish China grow stronger and stronger!
I love my country!

Posted by wonderwoman February 14, 11 06:20 AM

147.

AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHERRRRRR

Posted by Anonymous February 15, 11 11:11 AM

148.

3 words for #24, amazing amazing and amazing..............

Posted by aurend February 16, 11 05:37 AM

149.

nice pics!!! really colorful!! my fav was da pic in which meal was served in a small town!! :)

Posted by palwasha February 16, 11 01:51 PM

150.

Nice picture. Is rabbit festival most important for china.
why they should they take holiday on that day
plz send me replayy

Posted by susan khadka February 17, 11 08:39 PM

151.

Nice picture, unique !!!
Alus pisan lah (sundanese)

Posted by fakhriy fathur February 20, 11 04:26 AM

152.

These photographs are fantastic!

Posted by Stacey Cook February 20, 11 06:32 PM

153.

Muchas, F E L I C I D A D E S por este año 2011
que cada uno de los nuevos conejitos sea portador de sabiduria,
paz, para poder enterder este mundo hermoso del cual estamos
heredando para el.

Posted by Toribio Guerra Garcia February 21, 11 05:04 PM

154.

COOL!

Posted by mestery person February 22, 11 12:15 AM

155.

每一个人过的年都不一样，但愿每人都过的精彩。

Posted by 笋的味道 February 22, 11 04:16 AM

156.

希望今年奶奶身体健康，全家都平平安安。。。。

Posted by deo February 23, 11 04:07 AM

157.

Очень красочно!

Posted by DenNew February 24, 11 09:55 AM

158.

I teach music and try to include as many cultures as possible to honour the many different cultures of my students. I have always included the lunar new year but have never had photos to share before! Thank you - this collection not only contains magnificent pictures, but also demonstrates that Lunar New Year is celebrated in many places.

Posted by Music Mommy February 27, 11 12:51 PM

159.

Great pictures.

Posted by Giovanni Rosselli March 7, 11 02:20 PM

160.

Amazing pictures.

Can boston.com give me a position as photographer? I want to work for this website, especially The Big Picture!

Wait for your feedback.

Thanks again for so many great pictures to help us to know the world.

Posted by Lili March 8, 11 10:10 PM

161.

Great photo .So much beauty .Happy Chinese New Year.

Posted by kokosnak April 7, 11 05:40 AM

162.

i like china

Posted by khan April 19, 11 01:34 AM

163.

Chinese peoples are: 1. Homely 2. Friendly 3. They have proved ALL ARE EQUAL, which means they know how to respect Each other 4. They know how to enjoy in life 5. They know how to express the gratefulness to the Almighty.
I think Chinese New Year celebration can be a good example to others.

Posted by Sardar Nasir Ahmed April 24, 11 05:37 AM

Chinese New Year, 2011

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