And the celebratory mood has reached all corners, even zoos. Belgium's Antwerp zoo came to life at night on Tuesday with a twinkling display of Chinese light sculptures. The China Light Festival is the first of its kind in Belgium, where Chinese artists have transformed the gardens of the zoo into a magical landscape of illuminations.

Belgium's Antwerp zoo lights up with a show of Chinese lanterns to mark the winter holidays.

While many of the zoo's regular inhabitants are fast asleep, guests can take a nocturnal walk to find a giant Chinese dragon alongside zebras and giraffes from the African Savannas and frosty penguins from Antarctica.

There is even a Chinese version of Brussels' iconic Manneken-Pis figurine which sprays visitors with water, a big surprise for many.

"I like the elephants, and the Manneken-Pis. Well, they liked the Manneken-Pis, yeah. They got squirted on,"

The spectacle's smaller figurines were created in China before being packed up and sent by boat to Antwerp, while larger sculptures such as the dragon were built on site in Belgium with the help of a crane.

"I find fantasy characters very beautiful; it's something typically Chinese."

"I find fantasy characters very beautiful; it's something typically Chinese.Yeah, that was very special for us. I told him this afternoon we would go to the zoo in the night and he was really like: 'Uh? In the night? What can we see in the zoo in the night?' Well, this."

The festival of lights is an age-old tradition in China, with some tracing the origins of the custom to a form of prayer for a good harvest.

Antwerp zoo's enchanting show will see in the new year, lasting until January 18.