Sydney awash with red celebrations

Sydney streets have become awash with the colour red as Chinese New Year revellers and Valentine's Day lovers raise a toast to good fortune.

Roving dancers and drummers have entertained thousands who flocked to the city on Saturday to sample the Chinese, Thai and Korean flavours on offer ahead of the Lunar New Year on Thursday.

Despite the rain, revellers enjoyed roaming through lantern-lit Haymarket streets while picking up good luck charms and occasionally roses along the way.

"We buy something for good luck and put it on our door," said Eric Wang from Belfield.

"I hope that we have good health."

As they celebrated with their two children, Hana and Mark Chen turned their wishes to a smooth renovation of their North Sydney home.

"We're hoping it'll be painless," Mr Chen said.

"We aren't travelling so we can focus on that."

Along Sydney Harbour, colourful terracotta warrior statues lit up the foreshore, inspired by the famous army of terracotta warriors uncovered in the tomb of China's first Emperor in 1974.

The events are part of the Year of the Sheep festivities, which continue with the twilight parade of lanterns and floats on February 22 and dragon boat race regatta on February 28.