Papers say global celebrations of the Chinese New Year reflect the country's growing prominence in the world. The Lunar New Year, also known as The Spring Festival, is one of the most important occasions in China. The New Year celebrations, which started on Thursday, will continue for two weeks.

It was a spectacle: Traditional and modern Khmer and Chinese music enraptured as hundreds of dancers took to the stage in elaborate costumes—and with literally flying colors as a pair of acrobats spun above the stage.