Lanterns all set in Shenyang for Chinese New Year celebration

Just as cities across China are preparing their festive lanterns to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year in February, the city of Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province has over 70 sets of large-sized luminous structures and more than 30,000 lanterns all set at its Guandong Movie Town. The city will open its 2024 Spring Festival lantern show there on Saturday, December 30, 2023.

Promoting traditional Chinese culture while blending aesthetics of current times, a variety of elements, like national chic, cyberpunk and digital technology, have been incorporated in the design of the lanterns, creating a world of over 400,000 square meters – or the equivalent of 56 standard football fields – filled with dazzling hues.

Among them, an 18-meter-tall installation featuring five dragons encircling a lotus flower is the biggest lantern set at the scene. It is 72 meters in diameter and occupies 4,000 square meters. The lantern carries the message of good fortune for all of China and wishes for a happy Spring Festival for every family.

This year, the city has invited craftsmen from the well-known "Chinese Lantern City" of Zigong in southwest China's Sichuan Province to make all the lanterns. Many of these craftsmen have previously been invited to make lanterns in over 20 countries including the United States, Canada and Russia. Visitors to Guandong Movie Town will be able to see the lantern arts of Zigong while experiencing the local cultures of Shenyang.

Meanwhile, fireworks, traditional opera performances, lion dances and the delights of culture-defining food will also feature during the lantern show. Visitors are welcome to join the jubilation until March 3, 2024.