China rings in the new year the Year of Rabbit with most COVID rules lifted

China rings in the new year the Year of Rabbit with most COVID rules lifted!

For the past three years, Lunar New Year celebrations have been marred under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.

People across China celebrated the start of the new Lunar New Year with large family gatherings and visits to temples after the government lifted its strict “zero-COVID” policy.

As communities across Asia welcomed the Year of the Rabbit, Sunday in China saw the biggest celebration since the coronavirus pandemic started three years ago.

As reported, nearly 53,000 people offered prayers at Beijing’s Lama Temple however, the crowds appeared to be smaller compared to pre-pandemic days. The Tibetan Buddhist site allows up to 60,000 visitors a day, citing safety reasons, and requires an advance reservation.

The Lunar New Year is the most important annual event worldwide in regions and countries that house significant Overseas Chinese or Sinophone populations.

Lunar New Year commonly known as the Spring Festival in China, is a fifteen-day celebration marked by many traditions.

Each year is named after one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac in a repeating cycle, with this year being the Year of the Rabbit.

Many took to social media to extend new wishes including celebrities.