WATCH: China celebrates the Year of the Rabbit with most COVID-19 rules lifted

On Sunday, people across China celebrated the Lunar New Year with large family gatherings and temple-visiting crowds after the government lifted its strict “zero-COVID-19” policy, marking the biggest holiday celebration since inception of the pandemic three years ago.

The Lunar New Year is the most important annual holiday in China. Each year is named after one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac in a repeating cycle, this year being the Year of the Rabbit. For the past three years, celebrations have been muted due to the pandemic.

With the easing of most of the COVID-19 restrictions that had confined millions to their homes, people could finally make their first trip back to their hometowns to reunite with their families without worrying about the inconveniences of quarantine, the potential travel bans and suspensions.

Adriana Lima

Adriana Lima (Brazilian Portuguese: [adɾiˈãnɐ ˈlimɐ]; born June 12, 1981) is a Brazilian model and actress, best known as a Victoria's Secret Angel from 1999 to 2018. She was the longest-running model and named "the most valuable Victoria's Secret Angel" in 2017. She is also known as a spokesmodel for Maybelline cosmetics since 2003, and for her Super Bowl and Kia Motors commercials. At age 15, Lima won Ford's "Supermodel of Brazil" competition, and took second place the following year in the Ford "Supermodel of the World" competition before signing with Elite Model Management in New York City.