Glimpse of Chinese New Year: Paying tribute to gods of war and literature

In this photo taken on Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, Annie leung, 12, is lifted by her father to touch a guandao - a type of traditional Chinese weapon - in a gesture that is supposed to bring good fortune in the coming year, at Man Mo Temple in central Hong Kong. The temple pays tribute to the God of Literature ("Man" in Chinese) and God of War ("Mo" in Chinese) traditionally worshipped by scholars in ancient China looking to succeed and excel in civil examinations that would win them high positions in the government. Annie was spending time with her family over the Chinese New Year holiday and offered her prayers at this Hong Kong temple on the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. "My new year wish is to achieve good results in school this year," she said. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) (The Associated Press)

In this photo taken on Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, Annie Leung, 12, is lifted by her father to touch a guandao, a type of traditional Chinese weapon, at Man Mo Temple in central Hong Kong. Leung is spending time with her family over the Chinese New Year holiday. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) (The Associated Press)

BEIJING – Surrounded by a steady stream of Hong Kong worshippers offering prayers for the new year, Annie Leung is lifted by her father above the clouds of incense in Man Mo Temple in central Hong Kong.

This photo by Associated Press photographer Vincent Yu shows Leung, 12, as she touches a guandao on the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. A gaundao is a type of traditional Chinese weapon, and touching it is said to bring good fortune for the coming year.

Man Mo Temple pays tribute to the god of literature ("Man" in Chinese) and god of war ("Mo" in Chinese). The temple was traditionally worshipped by scholars in ancient China looking to excel in civil examinations that would win them high positions in government.

Leung, who was spending time with family over the Chinese New Year holiday, said that her new year wish "is to achieve good results in school."

This is the last installment of six images that the AP has presented this week showcasing Chinese New Year-themed photos from around the Asia-Pacific region, illustrating what China's biggest holiday means to the country and its extensive Chinese diaspora.