Lantern Festival celebrations across China

Villagers in Boxing county, Shandong province wear costumes during a folk art performance to greet the Lantern Festival, which falls on Feb 22 this year. The festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Since it is held to mark the first full moon of the lunar year, Chinese celebrate by hanging colorful lanterns, playing games and gathering with friends to eat sweetened rice dumplings. [Photo by Wei Peng / Asianewsphoto]