Crowds visit Beijing temple fairs at Lunar New Year

Visitors braved sub-zero temperatures to visit temple fairs in Beijing on Monday, celebrating the second day of the week-long Chinese Lunar New Year holiday. Crowds flocked to Yuanmingyuan Park in the outskirts of Beijing, visiting traditional food stalls with lamb and octopus skewers, along with game stalls and other festivities.

Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar, a time to gather with family, reconnect with friends and indulge in food and drink. Each year the Chinese zodiac is believed to bear the characteristics of its namesake animal, with this year's - the Year of the Rabbit - considered one of calm and contemplation.