Thousands across Asia usher in the Year of the Horse on the first day of the Lunar New Year.<br/> <br />At sunrise in Beijing, worshippers flocked to a popular temple to pray for good luck and a prosperous year ahead.<br/> <br />Others threw copper tokens at a bell hanging under a bridge....according to tradition, tokens that hit the bell result in granted wishes.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE)(Mandarin) 78-YEAR-OLD RETIREE LIN RONGZHEN SAYING:<br/> <br />"Year of the Horse means racing forward, succeeding quickly. Things should go well, the whole family should be peaceful and safe, and society and the country should be good."<br/> <br />In Chinatown in Manila, clouds of smoke hung in the air as crowds lit firecrackers and watched traditional dragon dances.<br/> <br />The neighbourhood is one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world dating back to 1594 when the Chinese travelled to the region for trade.<br/> <br />More celebrations in Kuala Lumpur...<br/> <br />Vistors watched a lion dance and prayed for the year ahead at a temple ador
