Beijing lantern art, a dazzling heritage

Also known as "dengcai" or "huadeng," colorful lanterns have long illuminated China's most joyous festivals, from Spring Festival and Qixi Festival to Mid-Autumn – not to mention the Lantern Festival, when dazzling displays lighting up the night sky are the main focus.

Beijing holds a deep connection to this luminous art form. The city's famed Dengshikou area, literally "Mouth of the Lantern Market," earned its name during the Ming and Qing dynasties, when streets overflowed with lanterns in brilliant hues. These glowing creations symbolized happiness, prosperity and festive spirit.

Recognized today as a national intangible cultural heritage item of China, Beijing lanterns blend a range of crafts, including painting, paper mounting, embroidery, carving, paper-cutting and calligraphy.

Among the guardians of this time-honored art is Liu Shaobai, a lantern craftsman trained under Li Banghua, an inheritor of imperial palace lantern-making skills.

Through his artistic innovation, teaching and community engagement, Liu continues to bring new light and vitality to Beijing's age-old lantern heritage.