China ushered in the traditional lunar year of the Ox with a massive fireworks display Sunday night in the capital Beijing, as more people than previously travelling to family gatherings in their home towns around the country.

China's transportation authorities reported am increase of more than 20 per cent in train passengers within the last three days, compared with last year. Over the 40-day holiday period, 2.32 billion people - 5 per cent more than in 2008 - are expected to travel.

The ox is the second of the 12 Chinese animal zodiac signs that operate in a 12-year cycle, and is said to represent the concepts of patience and constancy.

The New Year's celebrations however were overshadowed by the global economic crisis and the painful remembrances of the deadly earthquake in the province of Sichuan in 2008.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao celebrated the new year with earthquake survivors in the village of Wenchuan, the epicentre of the May 12, 2008 quake which is thought to have taken the lives of more than 80,000 people.