Lanterns light up China's cities to welcome the Year of the Pig
Updated 16:56, 23-Jan-2019
CGTN
["china"]
00:46
The 25th Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival kicked off on January 21 in Zigong City, southwest China's Sichuan Province. It is an annual event that welcomes the Chinese lunar New Year with a grand exhibition of sophisticated lanterns.
Zigong City has passed down the tradition of lantern shows during Spring Festival from the Tang (618-907) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties. It has been hailed "the best lantern festival in the world."
However, the lantern festival is not exclusive to Zigong City. Many places across China have already lit up their streets with lanterns of various shapes and colors. This year, they share one character in common: Cartoon pigs. 
Follow CGTN to take a closer look at the lantern shows that are underway in other parts of China.

Xi'an Expo Park

A lantern in the form of a dragon at the entrance of Xi'an Expo Park. /VCG Photo

A lantern in the form of a dragon at the entrance of Xi'an Expo Park. /VCG Photo

Two dragon lanterns at the entrance of Xi'an Expo Park. /VCG Photo

Two dragon lanterns at the entrance of Xi'an Expo Park. /VCG Photo

  The dragon lanterns. /VCG Photo

  The dragon lanterns. /VCG Photo

Lanterns on display at Xi'an Expo Park. /VCG Photo

Lanterns on display at Xi'an Expo Park. /VCG Photo

The dragon lantern at the entrance of Xi'an Expo Park in the evening. /VCG Photo

The dragon lantern at the entrance of Xi'an Expo Park in the evening. /VCG Photo

A lantern in the shape of a cartoon pig. /VCG Photo

A lantern in the shape of a cartoon pig. /VCG Photo

A Chinese New Year lantern exhibition opened to visitors on January 22 at Xi'an Expo Park in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
The most eye-catching might be the two giant lanterns in the shape of dragons at the entrance of the park. Illuminating at night, they bring the dragons alive as if they were dancing over the bridge.

Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai

Lanterns exhibited at Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai. /VCG Photo

Lanterns exhibited at Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai. /VCG Photo

Visitors take photos in front of the lanterns. /VCG Photo

Visitors take photos in front of the lanterns. /VCG Photo

Lanterns in a lane. /VCG Photo

Lanterns in a lane. /VCG Photo

Lanterns that highlight the characteristics of Shanghai. /VCG Photo

Lanterns that highlight the characteristics of Shanghai. /VCG Photo

Shanghai-flavored lanterns. /VCG Photo

Shanghai-flavored lanterns. /VCG Photo

Pig-shaped lanterns with Chinese characters of Earthly Branches written on it. /VCG Photo

Pig-shaped lanterns with Chinese characters of Earthly Branches written on it. /VCG Photo

Opening on January 21, the lantern festival held at Yuyuan Garden in the Huangpu District, Shanghai, have attracted many visitors. Apart from the typical pig-shapes, the lanterns also celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Altogether, 30 lighting projects and nearly 1,000 multicolored bulbs brought a festive mood to classic architecture. The lantern festival lasts for 33 days until February 22. 

Sanmenxia in Henan Province

A lantern featuring a cartoon pig at Sanmenxia in Henan Province. /VCG Photo

A lantern featuring a cartoon pig at Sanmenxia in Henan Province. /VCG Photo

A lantern of a high-speed railway. /VCG Photo 

A lantern of a high-speed railway. /VCG Photo 

Lanterns in the shape of landscapes. /VCG Photo

Lanterns in the shape of landscapes. /VCG Photo

Lanterns in the shape of bird cages and parrots at Sanmenxia in Henan Province. /VCG Photo

Lanterns in the shape of bird cages and parrots at Sanmenxia in Henan Province. /VCG Photo

Tourists take pictures in front of the huge lantern collection. /VCG Photo

Tourists take pictures in front of the huge lantern collection. /VCG Photo

Lanterns that are hung over the corridor. /VCG Photo

Lanterns that are hung over the corridor. /VCG Photo

The lantern fair at Sanmenxia in Henan Province features 155 collections of lanterns. The lanterns have enlivened the city by bringing the festive atmosphere that permeated the streets and lanes. The exhibition lasts for 48 days from January 21 to March 9. 

Changzhou, Jiangsu Province

The entrance of 2019 Changzhou Lantern Festival in Jiangsu Province. /VCG Photo

The entrance of 2019 Changzhou Lantern Festival in Jiangsu Province. /VCG Photo

A huge lantern collection that shows image of a cartoon pig at Changzhou Lantern Festival. /VCG Photo

A huge lantern collection that shows image of a cartoon pig at Changzhou Lantern Festival. /VCG Photo

A "golden phoenix" at Changzhou Lantern Festival. /VCG Photo

A "golden phoenix" at Changzhou Lantern Festival. /VCG Photo

A large lantern with New Year wishes. /VCG Photo

A large lantern with New Year wishes. /VCG Photo

2019 Changzhou Lantern Festival is still going on in east China's Jiangsu Province. Many visitors are flocking to admire the lanterns.