Cities and towns around China are holding vibrant celebrations for the Spring Festival that begins on Tuesday.

In Xiangyang of central China's Hubei Province, thousands of lanterns are lit up in the night sky above the ancient cit, with their glow reflecting on the Hanjiang River as crowds cheer below.

In Xihe, an old town of east China's Anhui Province with over 600 years of history, residents parade every night these days in the shape of a 110-meter-long dragon made of 37 sets of lanterns.

In Dazhou of southwest China's Sichuan Province, burning dragon celebrations, an intangible cultural heritage of the city combining dragon dance and fireworks, are held on ancient streets. This year's celebrations also include drones shaped like dragons soaring overhead and molten iron sparked against the dark sky.

Jining of east China's Shandong Province has staged a grand Spring Festival show featuring traditional art performances and robots performing ancient drums.

In Huating of northwest China's Gansu Province, villages are staging colorful celebrations including lion dances, dragon dances, traditional drama and other folk art activities.

And in Kashgar of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a massive nine-meter spring couplet on the city gate greet visitors to the ancient city, its characters celebrating the enduring spirit of the historic city on the Silk Road.

This years' Spring Festival falls on Feb 17, ushering in the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.