Cities and villages across China have celebrated the last day of Chinese New Year with dazzling light displays.

The Lantern Festival celebrates the first full moon of the new year and marks the end of the 15-day celebrations.

During the festivities, people eat rice dumplings called yuanxiao to mark the full moon and watch as lanterns rise into the sky.

Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year Show all 17 1 /17 Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year The final day, Day 15, of Chinese New Year sees the Lantern Festival, where red Chinese lanterns are released into the sky AFP/Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year A man takes a photo of colorful lights with his smartphone at a lantern fair in Beijing AFP/Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year Chinese New Year is the longest national holiday in China AFP/Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year Although China has used the Gregorian calendar since 1912, Chinese New Year is based on the ancient Chinese lunar calendar, falling on the second new moon after winter solstice AFP/Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year Roughly a sixth of the world will observe Chinese New Year, with celebrations in Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia AFP/Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year A Chinese family visits a lantern show Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year 2017 is the year of the tenth Chinese zodiac, the rooster REUTERS Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year The year's of the rooster include 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 and 2005 Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year Those born in 1957 or 2017 are fire roosters, and are considered trustworthy, with a strong sense of timekeeping and responsibility at work. Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year Fire roosters are recommended to avoid the colour red and their unlucky numbers: one, three and nine. Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year Fire roosters are also thought to be talkative, popular in a crowd and loyal Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year The rooster will be followed by the dog in 2018 and the pig in 2019 Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year A family visits a lantern show for the Lantern Festival in Zhangjiakou, China Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year People visit a light show celebrating the festival REUTERS Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year Beijing is bidding to host the Winter Olympics Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year A general view of signage Beijing's bid for the Winter Olympics logo during the Chinese Lantern Festival Getty Images Lantern festival marks last day of Chinese New Year Performers put on a show to celebrate the Lantern Festival Getty Images

The lantern tradition emerged as a popular tradition in ancient China after an emperor heard that Buddhist monks would watch light lanterns to worship Buddha on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

The festival marks the return of spring and symbolises the reunion of family. 2017 is the year of the tenth Chinese zodiac, the rooster.

The years of the rooster include 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 and 2005. However, this is the year of the fire rooster.

Those born in 1957 or 2017 are fire roosters, and are considered trustworthy, with a strong sense of timekeeping and responsibility at work.

They are also thought to be talkative, popular in a crowd and loyal. Their lucky numbers are thought to be five, seven and eight, and their lucky colours gold, brown and yellow.

Fire roosters are recommended to avoid the colour red and their unlucky numbers: one, three and nine.