A cartoon character interacts with tourists during a temple fair held in the Shijingshan Amusement Park in Beijing Jan 23, 2012.

A jester interacts with tourists during a temple fair held in the Shijingshan Amusement Park in Beijing Jan 23, 2012.

Foreign actors perform during a temple fair held in the Chaoyang Park of Beijing Jan 23, 2012.

At the Temple of Heaven, 320 costumed performers on Monday staged a show presenting the royal heaven worship ceremony in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

In the one-hour ceremony, thousands of visitors watched as the royal parade marched toward the altar where the "emperor" held a ritual to pray for peace and good harvest in the coming year.

At the Summer Palace, the ancient royal garden, a traditional fair opened to public with old-fashioned shops and stands selling items and snacks popular in the old days.

The Chinese New Year, which begins on Monday this year, is an important occasion for family dinners, fireworks, and a trip to temple fairs.

To cope with the increase in visitors, authorities in Beijing said they have deployed seven police choppers and 910,000 order-maintaining personnel across the city to prevent the breakout of fires and stampedes.