The new Chinese Year of the Tiger was brought in with fireworks and dumpling eating on Saturday night, marking the official start of the country's most important festive season, dpa reported.
At midnight, Beijing's streets erupted with colour and noise as residents set off fireworks to celebrate the incoming year of the Metal Tiger.
While most shops and businesses were closed on Saturday, fireworks stalls on street corners continued to do a roaring trade, selling cheaper crackers for 20 yuan and more expensive varieties for several hundred yuan.
Dumplings were also on the menu, as Chinese families got together on the eve of the new year for a traditional feast. Many had travelled long distances to be with family members, and more than 2.5 billion trips were expected to be made during this year's holiday season.
On the streets, the sound of mobile phones rang out as people sent and received well wishes from friends and family. The three main mobile telephone service providers expect to exceed the 18 billion texts which were sent during last year's holiday by China's 700 million subscribers.
Earlier, China's leaders welcomed the new year with a more sober message.
Premier Wen Jiabao called for persistence in "accelerating the economic structure adjustment, and doing a better job responding to the international financial crisis, in order to keep steady and relatively fast economic development."
The metal-tiger year is seen as a "golden" year that is good for business, but not so good for relationships.
Marriages and births are generally lower in the Year of the Tiger, with many Chinese preferring to wait for a more auspicious time, the China Daily reported.
Based on the lunar calendar, the Chinese New Year starts with the new moon and ends 15 days later with Lantern Festival on the night of the full moon.
China brings in the Year of the Metal Tiger with a bang
