China’s annual Lunar New Year celebrations traditionally feature a selection of specially prepared – often lavish – dishes eaten together by families.

The importance of family at such times means millions of people throughout the nation will be crowding into trains, buses and cars ahead of next week’s holiday to make the annual pilgrimage home so they can be part of Tuesday’s New Year’s Eve meal, also known as the reunion dinner, to mark the occasion.

Beijing’s Palace Museum exhibition reveals the daily hunt for poison and other culinary secrets surrounding the Forbidden City’s Qing dynasty imperial family