Lantern Festival (Guangzhou Yuexiu Park Lantern Fair)

A Tapestry of Tradition and Innovation

In mid-February, Guangzhou's Yuexiu Park transforms into a magical paradise of light to celebrate the Lantern Festival, marking the final day of the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) celebrations. A giant dragon lantern over 10 meters tall welcomes visitors, while more than 5,000 colorful lanterns adorn the park. Lotus-shaped lanterns float on the lake surface, creating a dreamlike atmosphere with their flickering lights. Families and tourists can be seen enjoying warm tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) wrapped in bamboo leaves while watching lion dances and projection mapping shows. This festival is a special event where visitors can experience the charm of Guangzhou, beautifully blending ancient traditions with modern technology.

Main Attractions

A Fantastical World of Lanterns

At the heart of the festival, over 600 lanterns create a breathtaking spectacle, ranging from traditional red silk lanterns to giant, intricately designed LED sculptures. As night falls, the park glows like a vibrant kaleidoscope, with lights reflecting off the calm lake surface, illuminating the awestruck faces of visitors. The centerpiece, a 30-meter-tall lantern tower, dominates the night sky with its golden light visible from afar. Visitors can explore themed areas showcasing Chinese mythology and Guangzhou's rich cultural heritage.

Cutting-Edge Light Shows

The festival features popular light shows utilizing the latest technology. Visitors can use a special app to freely change the colors and movements of specific lanterns. The star attraction is a 15-meter-tall LED tree called the "Wishing Tree." Children and adults alike cheer as they watch their wishes, sent via smartphone, climb up the tree as twinkling lights. This giant illuminated tree floating in the night sky creates a magical, fantastical atmosphere.

Traditional Performances

Throughout the night, the park resonates with traditional music and performances. Bold lion dances weave through the audience, with powerful rhythms of drums and cymbals heightening the festival's excitement. On a special stage set up on the lake, dancers in glamorous silk costumes gracefully perform ancient Chinese stories. Their movements beautifully reflect the surrounding lantern lights. The mingling scents of incense and food stall aromas stimulate visitors' senses, offering an experience that seems to transcend time.

Lantern Riddle Contest

The "Lantern Riddle Contest" is a popular event that stimulates intellectual curiosity. About 500 lanterns in the park are inscribed with riddles of varying difficulty, from simple wordplay to challenging questions about classical literature. Families and groups of friends can be seen huddling together, eagerly searching for answers. Correct solutions earn small prizes, and the air is filled with cheers and laughter from participants. This traditional game fosters intergenerational interactions, adding to the charm of the event.

Cantonese Culinary Delights

A wide array of delicious foods further enhances the festive atmosphere. About 100 food stalls in the park waft the savory aromas of grilled dumplings and steamed buns. The Lantern Festival staple, tangyuan (glutinous rice balls filled with sweet sesame paste), captivates visitors with its soft texture and refined sweetness. Visitors can also enjoy Cantonese cuisine specialties like dim sum and the popular crispy egg tarts. The rows of food stalls illuminated by colorful lanterns offer a feast for both the palate and the eyes. Many foreign tourists can be seen mingling with locals, enjoying authentic Cantonese cuisine.

Cultural and Historical Background

The Lantern Festival, which marks the final day of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations, has a history spanning over 2,000 years. Its origins are shrouded in legend. One theory suggests it began when an emperor of the Han Dynasty ordered lanterns to be lit in honor of Buddha. Another story tells of the Jade Emperor planning fiery revenge on a village that killed his favorite crane, only to be tricked by the villagers who preemptively lit lanterns.

In Guangzhou, the Yuexiu Park Lantern Fair has been a central cultural event for over a century, growing from a small local celebration to a major tourist attraction. For the people of Guangzhou, this festival represents a connection to their ancestors and an opportunity to pass on traditions to the next generation. The festival symbolizes family reunion, hope for prosperity in the new year, and joy at winter's end. In recent years, it has also become a showcase for Guangzhou's technological innovation, blending ancient customs with modern artistry.

Participants Voices

Liu Wei, 68, local resident: "I've been coming to the Yuexiu Park Lantern Fair since I was a little boy, but its magic never fades. This year, I brought my 5-year-old granddaughter for the first time. Seeing the wonder in her eyes as she gazed at the giant zodiac animal lanterns, I was transported back to my own childhood. We spent hours trying to solve riddles together, and I taught her how to make a wish at the Wishing Tree, just as my grandfather taught me. The new interactive displays are impressive, but for me, the heart of the festival is still the same – it's about family, tradition, and the simple joy of light piercing the darkness. As we shared tangyuan under the glow of thousands of lanterns, I felt a deep connection to all the generations who have celebrated here before us."

I've traveled the world chasing lantern festivals, but the Yuexiu Park Lantern Fair in Guangzhou was truly special. Thousands of colorful lanterns adorned the entire park, creating a spectacle that surpassed my imagination. What particularly impressed me was the gigantic dragon lantern, standing 30 meters tall. Its intricate design compelled me to keep taking photos. This festival also provided a wonderful opportunity to learn about Chinese culture and history. At the end, when we released wish lanterns into the sky, the sight of countless lanterns illuminating the night sky was like the Milky Way. In that moment, I felt a deep connection with the people around me and was filled with gratitude for the miracle of experiencing this journey.

Fun Facts

The Yuexiu Park Lantern Fair uses over 5 million LED lights, enough to stretch from Guangzhou to Hong Kong if laid end to end.
The largest lantern ever displayed at the fair was a 50-meter-long dragon lantern in 2018, which required a team of 100 artisans working for three months to complete.
In 2020, the fair introduced AR technology, allowing visitors to see virtual lantern displays through their smartphone cameras, blending the physical and digital worlds.
The festival's "Lantern Riddle Master" competition, held annually, attracts over 10,000 participants, with the winner receiving the title and a golden lantern trophy.
A special "silent area" was introduced in 2019, featuring sound-sensitive lanterns that change colors based on the ambient noise level, encouraging visitors to experience the beauty of silence amidst the festival's usual bustle.