Lanterns carrying hopes light up the sky

Spectacular display: Snake-shaped lanterns being released into the night during the Pingxi Lantern Festival in New Taipei City, Taiwan. — AFP

Thousands in Taiwan and China celebrated the Lantern Festival by releasing paper lanterns into the night sky, visiting light installations and snacking on glutinous rice dumplings.

The holiday marks the end of the Lunar New Year period and is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar.