Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
On the evening of January 23, the 32nd Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival opened at the Great World of Colored Lanterns Park in Zigong. Eleven large and over 200 medium and small installations lit up the night sky. In 2025, Zigong's colored lanterns traveled abroad and gained immense popularity worldwide. A total of 112 Zigong colored lantern projects were held in 85 cities in 19 countries, including the United States, France, and the Netherlands, accounting for 92% of the global market.
From the Winter Lantern Festival in Houston, USA, to the festive lantern display in Singapore's Chinatown and the Lantern Carnival in Kuwait, lanterns from the small city of Zigong in southern Sichuan Province, China, have now been lit in more than 500 cities across 80 countries and regions, conveying the spirit of Chinese New Year.
Zigong has had a tradition of making colored lanterns since ancient times. In 1964, Zigong held its first lantern festival for the Spring Festival, where people used "new and unusual materials" according to their crafts, such as glass medicine bottles, silkworm cocoons, plastic bottles, dried chili peppers, lantern shades, and so on. "In Zigong, anything can become a lantern," said 60-year-old Liu Juncai, a member of a group preserving the Zigong lantern-making technique, a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage. This year's exhibition, "Intangible Heritage of Craftsmanship," is themed "Shan Hai Jing" (Catalogue of Mountains and Seas), and its core idea is an in-depth exploration of materials.
Prince, a Zimbabwean student studying in China, was amazed at the lantern festival and exclaimed, "I saw the most beautiful lanterns in the world here! The Zigong Lantern Festival is like magic, it's simply incredible!"
The "Musical Robot" installation is a particular highlight at the Zigong International Lantern Festival. Its design is based on a drawing by an 8-year-old British boy, Jaden. The colorful lanterns were inspired by 6,000 drawings by children from over 40 countries. From a mechanical horse galloping through colorful clouds to a panda traveling through space, the most incredible imaginations blossom in a sea of lanterns.
In 1990, Zigong lanterns first traveled abroad and were exhibited in Singapore. Now, with the approach of Chinese New Year (Year of the Horse), a colorful lantern composition, "Eight Steeds," inspired by the ancient Chinese painting "Eight Famous Steeds," shines in the Marina Bay Gardens in Singapore. This installation, full of vitality and dynamism, is also the work of artisans from Zigong, Sichuan Province.
"In recent years, traditional Chinese elements have become increasingly popular abroad," says Liu Juncai. This May, a themed composition, "Shan Hai Jing," created by his team for a foreign client, will be unveiled in the UAE. Preparations are currently in full swing.
From a single lantern to a whole garland, from one city to a global stage. Zigong's colorful lanterns not only embody a modern expression of traditional culture but also serve as a link between Chinese stories and global perspectives. Felix, an 8-year-old British boy, shared, "I love the Chinese dragon; the combination of dinosaurs and lanterns is amazing. I want every child to be able to come here and experience these magical stories."
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