A man watches as fireworks light up the skyline of Shanghai in celebration of Chinese New Year in Shanghai, on February 10, 2013. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. #

A performer passes a snake through his nose and out his mouth during a show at a fair as part of lunar new year festivities at the Temple of Earth park in Beijing, on February 11, 2013. A billion-plus Asians ushered in the lunar Year of the Snake with a week of festivities. #

An Indonesian worker dries colored circle incense sticks prepared for Chinese New Year celebrations, in Tangerang on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, on February 4, 2013. #

A Chinese actor dressed as Qing Dynasty emperor, center, sits on a sedan chair during a rehearsal of an ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony ahead of the Chinese New Year at Ditan Park in Beijing, on February 8, 2013. #

A child held by his father cries as he holds an umbrella in the snow at the Shanghai Railway Station, on February 8, 2013 in Shanghai. Millions of Chinese are expected to cram onto China's train network in the coming weeks to return home for the Chinese Lunar New Year. #

Trees decorated with red lanterns ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair at the Temple of Earth park in Beijing, on February 9, 2013. #

Chinese Cambodian men and women perform a dragon dance to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at the river bank in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on February 9, 2013. #

A woman takes picture with her mobile phone as visitors admire the illuminations during the Zigong International Lantern Festival in conjunction with the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations in Zigong in southwest China's Sichuan province, on February 3, 2013. #

Fireworks explode over Kek Lok Si Buddhist temple with lighting decorations as part of the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations in Penang Island, northwestern Malaysia, on February 6, 2013. #

An Indonesian man of Chinese descent holds up a bottle of oil as an offering as he and others pray in the smoke filled Vihara Dharma Bhakti temple on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New year, February 10, 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia. #

A performer dressed as a Qing dynasty emperor prays in an ancient Qing Dynasty ceremony in which emperors prayed for good harvest and fortune, during the temple fair at Ditan Park, in Beijing, on February 9, 2013. #

An assistant shop clerk works near a newly unveiled gold snake on display for sale ahead of the upcoming Chinese lunar new year, the year of the Snake, at a jewelry shop in Hong Kong, on January 18, 2013. The 380 gram-gold snake is for sale for HK$200,000 (US$25,800). #

People scramble to catch cash and other gifts thrown by a Chinese-owned business establishment in celebration of Chinese New Year in the Chinatown district of Binondo in Manila, Philippines, on February 10, 2013. #

A man throws molten iron while dancers perform a dragon dance in the shower of molten iron spewing firework-like sparks, during a folk art performance to celebrate traditional Chinese Spring Festival at an amusement park in Beijing, on February 10, 2013. #

Fireworks illuminate the city's skyline in Hong Kong, on February 11, 2013. The Chinese lunar new year, which this year marks the year of the snake, was celebrated by Chinese communities the world over. #