Zigong in southwest China's Sichuan Province prepares to unveil its spectacular 2026 lantern festival on January 23, marking one of Asia's most anticipated cultural events this Lunar New Year season. The installation phase concluded this week, revealing 11 monumental lantern sets and over 200 intricate displays that fuse traditional craftsmanship with immersive storytelling.
Ancient Techniques Meet Modern Innovation
Artisans have integrated time-honored skills like tie-dye and paper-cutting with cutting-edge lighting technology to recreate scenes from Chinese mythology and historical epics. A 300-meter themed street forms the festival's backbone, offering visitors costume rentals and interactive photo opportunities that bridge past and present.
Audience Becomes Part of the Art
Breaking from conventional displays, the event features 360-degree roaming performances along visitor routes. Each pathway unfolds like pages from a living storybook, with attendees actively participating in narratives inspired by the Year of the Horse through spontaneous interactions with performers and installations.
