The Zigong Lantern Festival, a local traditional custom in Zigong City, Sichuan Province, is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. The Zigong Lantern Festival primarily includes various types such as craft lanterns, seated lanterns, and group lanterns. These lanterns often depict traditional folklore, classical literature, and mythological stories, characterized by their large scale, collective nature, and interactive features.
As early as the Tang and Song dynasties, the custom of lantern appreciation during the New Year was prevalent in the Zigong area. By the Qing dynasty, activities like the ‘Lion Lantern Market’ and ‘Lantern Pole Festival’ were established. By the early 20th century, the festival evolved to include activities such as lantern parades, flower lantern displays, sky lantern releases, and dragon lantern dances, gradually developing into a comprehensive lantern festival that represents the local customs and folk culture of the southwestern region.
With the approach of the Spring Festival in the Year of the Snake, the 31st Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival is upon us! This year’s festival is themed ‘Lanterns Celebrating China, A Thousand Splendors,’ featuring 12 sets of extra-large lanterns, 7 sets of large lanterns, and over 200 sets of medium and small lanterns to narrate the myriad scenes of China.
The festival will be open from January 20th to March 31st, with specific business hours subject to the daily opening status.
