China's 1.34 billion people on Monday welcomed the Year of the Dragon with President Hu Jintao joining the celebration by visiting urban and rural areas in the capital to greet the countrymen on the Lunar New Year.

As the clock hit midnight, Beijing's skyline lit up with colour as families across the Chinese capital set off fireworks to ward off evil spirits in the new year.

The dragon is the most favourable and revered sign in the 12-year Chinese zodiac -- a symbol of royalty, fortune and power. Chinese Zodiac assigns one animal, either real or fabricated to each year.

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A man holds incense sticks as part of Chinese new year celebrations at the Old City God Temple in Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai

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Chinese folk artists perform the lion dance at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Dragon in Bejing

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Chinese folk artists perform at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Dragon in Beijing

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A Chinese young performer dressed in dragon costumes prepares to perform at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Dragon

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People burn incense to pray for good fortune on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing on January 23

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A performer known as a "strong man" twirls weights on his shoulder as he performs in front of a crowd during Chinese new year celebrations at the 700-year-old Dongyue Temple in Beijing January 23, 2012. The temple is the largest of its kind in northern China for the Zhengyi school of Taoism, and was originally built by Taoist monks in the 14th century

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Actors dressed in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) costumes take part in the heaven-worshipping ceremony, in which people pray for good harvest and fortune, to celebrate the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, January 23

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People hold incense sticks as part of Chinese new year celebrations at the Old City God Temple in Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai

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Performers dressed in traditional costumes and wearing make-up dance as they take part in Chinese new year celebrations at the 700-year-old Dongyue Temple in Beijing

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