The Chinese Lantern Festival is a colorful and joyful event celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It marks the final day of the Lunar New Year holiday. This traditional festival has been part of Chinese culture for thousands of years and is still widely enjoyed today.
During this festival, families gather to look at lanterns, enjoy traditional snacks like sweet rice dumplings (called tangyuan), and admire the first full moon of the new year. The event is a symbol of family togetherness, happiness, and the hope for a bright future.
In recent years, the Chinese Lantern Festival has become popular all around the world. Cities in many countries now host lantern festivals during the New Year season. These events feature glowing lights, interactive displays, cultural shows, and large lantern installations that attract people of all ages.
Zigong: The Center of Chinese Lantern Art
Zigong, a city in Sichuan Province in China, is known as the hometown of Chinese lantern-making. This city has over 1,000 years of experience in creating beautiful lanterns. It is also recognized by UNESCO as an important center of cultural heritage for this traditional art.
Zigong’s lanterns are famous for their size, beauty, and quality. Most are made using steel frames covered with silk. They are often lit with modern LED lights and designed with artistic themes, making them look like glowing sculptures. These lanterns are now used in events in cities across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East.
About Yunyi Lanterns
One of the leading companies in Zigong is Yunyi Lanterns. We have over 20 years of experience in the lantern industry and are proud to be the original manufacturer of festival lanterns.
At Yunyi Lanterns, we focus on projects such as:
- Chinese Lantern Festivals
- Light shows in cities across China
- Creative landscape lanterns and sculptures
- Animatronic dinosaurs for exhibitions and parks
Our lanterns are shipped to over 80 countries around the world. Whether it’s a national celebration, cultural event, or holiday display, Yunyi Lanterns helps light up communities with colorful, custom-designed lanterns.
Blending Tradition with Smart Technology
At Yunyi, we believe in honoring old traditions while also embracing new ideas. Our lantern factory in Zigong uses both traditional silk-frame lantern-making techniques and modern lighting technology. We build lanterns using AI-powered dynamic lighting systems that can change colors, move, and respond to sound or music.
Our team includes skilled artists, engineers, and technicians. From drawing the first sketch to setting up the lanterns at the event site, we handle every step. Every project goes through a 23-point quality check system, and we follow ISO-certified production guidelines to ensure safety and durability.
We also use a special silk-reinforced steel frame that makes our lanterns strong and weather-resistant. These structures can last up to 15 years and look beautiful from all angles. Our lanterns are made to be energy-efficient using low-power LED lighting, which helps save electricity while still shining brightly.
Major Projects Around the World
Yunyi Lanterns has been part of many big events in cities around the globe. Our work includes over 1,500 custom lantern installations in more than 20 countries. Some of our major festival projects include:
- The Hala February Festival in Kuwait
- The Thanksgiving Light Festival in Houston, USA
- Traditional Spring Festival Lantern Events across Asia and Europe
We work directly with city governments, event planners, theme parks, and cultural groups to turn streets and public spaces into glowing art experiences. These events not only attract visitors but also bring cultural stories to life through light and color.
Zigong Lantern Festival: A Famous Event in China
The Zigong Lantern Festival is one of the largest and most famous lantern events in the world. Held every year in Zigong, this festival covers huge exhibition grounds with hundreds of lanterns.
In 2025, the festival featured over 200 lantern sets spread across more than 425,000 square meters. Visitors walked through light tunnels, saw glowing animals, enjoyed cartoon lantern displays, and experienced colorful storytelling through lights. Over one million people attended the event in the first few weeks.
The festival also includes music, sound effects, food, and performances, making it an exciting event for people of all ages.
Sky Lantern Festival and Water Lantern Festival Traditions
In many places, people also celebrate with a sky lantern festival or a water lantern festival. These traditions are peaceful and full of meaning.
During a sky lantern festival, people write their wishes or dreams on paper lanterns and release them into the sky. Watching hundreds of glowing lanterns float upward is a magical and emotional moment.
At a water lantern festival, lanterns are placed gently on rivers, lakes, or ponds. The floating lights reflect on the water, creating a calm and beautiful view. Both sky and water lanterns represent hope, peace, and letting go of the past.
The Meaning Behind New Year Lights
New Year lights are a big part of the Chinese Lantern Festival. Red lights stand for good luck and joy. Gold lights represent wealth and success. Lanterns often show symbols like dragons, phoenixes, and the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, each with its own meaning.
These lights are more than decorations—they are wishes for health, happiness, and a good future. They also help people remember the stories and values of Chinese culture.
Animal Lanterns and Cartoon Lanterns Bring Extra Fun
Lantern festivals today also include modern and family-friendly themes. Animal lanterns are very popular. Visitors can see glowing pandas, tigers, elephants, birds, and more. These lanterns are large, colorful, and often move or make sounds, which makes them fun and educational.
We also create cartoon lanterns based on popular characters that kids recognize and love. These designs help connect the next generation to the festival in a playful and exciting way. They mix fun with tradition and help families enjoy the event together.
Why the Chinese Lantern Festival Is Special
The Chinese Lantern Festival is more than just a light show. It’s a tradition that brings people together. It reminds us of family, community, and culture. The festival also brings joy and color during the winter season, making it a favorite event for many people around the world.
Whether you are visiting a festival in China or attending a lantern event in another country, the experience is the same—warm, magical, and full of light.
Yunyi Lanterns: Sharing Light with the World
At Yunyi Lanterns, we are proud to be part of this special tradition. We create lanterns for sky lantern festivals, water lantern festivals, New Year lights, animal lanterns, and cartoon lanterns. Each lantern is made with care, using quality materials and creative ideas.
From our base in Zigong, we help cities and event organizers around the world celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival in beautiful ways. Our work brings people together and helps keep this amazing tradition alive for future generations.