Photos: Chinese New Year celebrations come to an end

Chinese entertainers prepare to be transported to a traditional Lantern Festival parade for the 15th day of the Lunar New Year which officially ends it's celebrations, in Nuanquan on February 24, 2013. The festival which dates back more than 2000 years to the Han Dynasty sees China's cities become a sea of lanterns and fireworks. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

A Chinese musician performs the Suona, a traditional wind instrument, at a park in Beijing during the traditional Lantern Festival on February 24, 2013. The Lantern Festival formally marks the end of celebrations for the Chinese Lunar New Year period, 15 days after it began, and is celebrated by viewing lanterns and setting off fireworks, among other activities. WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images

A folk artist holds a piece of ice as he sits in a sedan chair carried by fellow performers during a performance to celebrate the Lantern Festival on a street in Yongji, Shanxi province February 24, 2013. The Lantern Festival, which falls on February 24 this year, occurs on the 15th day of the Chinese Lunar New Year and marks the end of the Spring Festival. REUTERS/China Daily

Folk artists wearing masks wait for their turn to give a performance on the street to celebrate the Lantern Festival on the outskirts of Wuhan, Hubei province February 24, 2013. The Lantern Festival, which falls on February 24 this year, occurs on the 15th day of the Chinese Lunar New Year and marks the end of the Spring Festival. REUTERS/Stringer

Confetti falls as lion dance troupes perform on a street during a ceremony to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Singapore's Chinatown district February 24, 2013. The festival which is also known as Yuan Xiao Jie is a Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year. It also marks the end of the series of celebrations starting from the Chinese New Year. REUTERS/Tim Chong

Members of a dragon dance troupe wait outside the Buddha Tooth Temple before a ceremony during the Lantern Festival in Singapore's Chinatown district February 24, 2013. The festival which is also known as Yuan Xiao Jie is a Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year. It also marks the end of the series of celebrations starting from the Chinese New Year. REUTERS/Tim Chong

Visitors look at lanterns in Yuyuan Gardens during the Lantern Festival in Shanghai on February 24, 2013. China celebrates the traditional Lantern Festival which formally marks the end of celebrations for the Chinese Lunar New Year period, 15 days after it began, and is celebrated by viewing lanterns and setting off fireworks, among other activities. PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images

Chinese blacksmiths man a furnace as they prepare to throw the molten metal against a cold stone wall to create sparks, during the Lantern Festival which traditionally marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations, in Nuanquan, Hebei province on February 24, 2013. For over 300 years, the village which is famous for its blacksmith skills, has maintained the tradition which they considered a cheaper alternative than buying fireworks during the Lantern Festival. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

This photo taken on February 24, 2013 shows Chinese blacksmiths throwing molten metal against a cold stone wall to create sparks during the Lantern Festival which traditionally marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations, in Nuanquan, Hebei Province. For over 300 years, the village, which is famous for its blacksmith skills, has maintained the tradition which they considered a cheaper alternative than buying fireworks during the Lantern Festival. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

Chinese blacksmiths throw molten metal against a cold stone wall to create sparks, during the Lantern Festival which traditionally marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations, in Nuanquan, Hebei province on February 24, 2013. For over 300 years, the village which is famous for its blacksmith skills, has maintained the tradition which they considered a cheaper alternative than buying fireworks during the Lantern Festival. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

This photo taken on February 24, 2013 shows Chinese blacksmiths preparing molten metal to throw against a cold stone wall to create sparks, during the Lantern Festival which traditionally marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations, in Nuanquan, Hebei Province. For over 300 years, the village which is famous for its blacksmith skills, has maintained the tradition which they considered a cheaper alternative than buying fireworks during the Lantern Festival. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

A Chinese blacksmith throws molten metal against a cold stone wall to create sparks, during the Lantern Festival which traditionally marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations, in Nuanquan, Hebei province on February 24, 2013. For over 300 years, the village which is famous for its blacksmith skills, has maintained the tradition which they considered a cheaper alternative than buying fireworks during the Lantern Festival. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

A couple pose for a photograph in an illuminated stairwell during the Lantern Festival that marks the end to the Chinese lunar New Year celebrations, in Taipei, Taiwan, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

Two girls wearing luminous bow-knots visit the ancient shopping area Qianmen Avenue during the Lantern Festival which falls on February 24 and traditionally marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations on February 24, 2013 in Beijing, China. The Lantern Festival is a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar new year in the Chinese calendar. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

South Koreans release paper lanterns to celebrate the first full moon of the Lunar New Year, in Yongin, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. According to the lunar calendar, the first full moon falls on Sunday and is the day Koreans traditionally eat special treats and wish for a bountiful harvest in the year. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)