Cities across China have been marking the Lantern Festival

Cities across China have been marking the Lantern Festival which falls this year on March 2. People are celebrating by striking gongs, beating drums, taking part in lively lion and dragon dances and watching lantern shows. Since its began, during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD), the Lantern Festival has become an event of great significance as it marks the final day of Chinese New Year celebrations.