简体中文
As the world rings in the New Year with various activities, people in China also had their share of the fanfare.
Traditionally, China celebrates its lunar New Year with more extravaganza, but still, festivities were seen in many cities on Monday night to usher in the year of 2013.
And people voiced their wishes for the new year.
Let's take a look.
PKG
Happy new year!
People in capital Beijing shouted out the wishes and ushered in the year of 2013.
A countdown celebration was held in the Summer Palace, China's largest ancient preserved garden and now a famous tourist site, on the eve of the new year.
The ceremony featured a lavish laser and light show, with the backdrop of one of the country's historic landmarks.
SOUNDBITE(CHINESE) WANG YANHONG, Beijing citizen
"I wish my parents far in Shandong and my friends happy and realize their dreams in the new year."
SOUNDBITE(CHINESE)LI SHASHA, Student
"I wish I could have a good performance in my study in 2013 and I also hope my parents and friends fulfill their dreams."
SOUNDBITE(ENGLISH) DOUGLAS, American tourist
"My new year wish is to have a great 2013, and to enjoy every minute of it."
In China's eastern metropolis, Shanghai, people welcomed the new year with a modern light show staged on its historical buildings.
Thousands of Shanghai residents and visitors gathered at the bank of the Huangpu River to witness the New Year countdown.
This year's show featured lights projecting a 3D movie onto the facade of the HSBC Building and Customs House, located in the Bund area.
It was also accompanied by aerial performers and a fireworks display.
The show, staged in the city for the second year, was an essential part of Shanghai's New Year carnival.
The New Year countdown ceremony in the Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong was an eye feast for any visitor.
The eight-minute show is the largest ever in the event's history.
Highlighting Hong Kong's night vistas, the show was dubbed as the first of the world's top 10 destinations for new year countdown celebrations.
An estimated 400,000 Hong Kong residents and tourists watched the show on both sides of the Victoria Harbor, despite it was the coldest new year eve in 29 years.
People celebrated and spoke out their new year wishes.
SOUNDBITE(CANTONESE) FELIX, Hong Kong citizen
"I wish I could have a better life in 2013 as the end of the world did not happen. There are a lot of unreasonable things in Hong Kong, so I wish the government could care more about its citizens while Hong Kong citizens could complain less."
SOUNDBITE(CHINESE) STUDENT
"I come from mainland and now study in Hong Kong. I have a happy life in 2012. I wish I could find a good job in Hong Kong as well as a boyfriend."
Chinese people usually mark the New Year on the Gregorian calendar by watching TV galas.
Major celebrations are reserved for the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which is usually in late January or February.
