Photo Gallery: South Coast Plaza’s celebration of Lunar New Year

A mascot representing the Chinese God of Wealth makes an appearance Thursday during the opening of South Coast Plaza’s Lunar New Year celebration.

Hundreds of guests attend South Coast Plaza’s launch Thursday of its Lunar New Year festivities celebrating the Year of the Pig.

Dancers perform the lion dance during the launch of South Coast Plaza’s Lunar New Year celebration.

South Coast Plaza’s Year of the Pig centerpiece in Jewel Court features eight flying pig figures swooping over another pig nestled in an ornate pagoda.

Guests take photos of an ice sculpture Thursday evening as South Coast Plaza launched its celebration of the Lunar New Year.

Dancers from the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music perform Thursday during South Coast Plaza’s opening of its Lunar New Year celebration, which runs through Feb. 18.

Mandy Sun, 4, poses for a photo in front of the Year of the Pig centerpiece during South Coast Plaza’s launch of its celebration of the Lunar New Year.

Guests take photos of the flying pigs in South Coast Plaza’s Lunar New Year centerpiece in Jewel Court.