The 34th China Qinhuai Lantern Festival opened with a lighting ceremony on Friday at the Confucius Temple in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province.

Officially named Lantern Fair on Qinhuai River, it has more than 1,700 years of history and remains the largest lantern festival in the country. It was listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of China in 2006.

An interactive website was also launched, inviting global online users to participate and light lanterns online.

Running till February 11, it is estimated that the festival will reach its climax on February 8, on the day of the Lantern Festival.