ZIGONG, China, Jan. 27, 2026 — On the evening of January 23, the 32nd Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival officially launched at the Chinese Colored Lantern World in Zigong, Sichuan Province, as 11 large-scale lantern installations and more than 200 smaller displays illuminated one after another. With origins in the Tang dynasty and a heritage spanning over a millennium, this luminous celebration now radiates anew through the dynamic integration of tradition and technology.
Hosted by the People’s Government of Zigong City, the festival plunges visitors into a sea of shifting light and shadow from the moment they pass through the 35-meter-high entrance gate. A colossal Kunpeng—the legendary giant fish-bird documented in the Daoist classic Zhuangzi: Carefree Wandering—spreads its wings across 210 meters and soars 32 meters high. Mythical beast lanterns inspired by the ancient Chinese text “The Classic of Mountains and Seas” come alive alongside a blazing Fire Phoenix with wings assembled from 15,000 chili peppers, resembling frozen evening clouds; a radiant Water Qilin reconstructed from 46,000 recycled medicine bottles; and the imposing “Jinmaohou,” a creature from Chinese mythology crafted from 2,000 jin (equivalent to one ton) of hand-harvested rice straw. Romantic visions rooted in traditional Chinese culture are transformed into fantastical, immersive scenes.
In the “Creative Dream Lanterns” zone, the displays draw inspiration from nearly 6,000 children’s drawings from around the world. From robots to the cosmos and dinosaurs, the boundless whimsy of childhood has been meticulously brought to life by Zigong lantern artisans. The result is a luminous tapestry that connects young hearts and dreams across the globe in the most enchanting fashion.
More than just a visual spectacle, the lantern festival also features a technology-infused amusement park. The vividly crafted “Legend of Mulan” lantern installation has gone viral online, depicting Hua Mulan—the iconic female general of ancient China—riding beside her steed, her gaze resolute and her hair flowing. “The most challenging aspect of character lanterns is capturing facial expressions,” said the creative team. “Compared to last year, we introduced 3D modeling at an earlier stage. During production, we increased the density of the facial wire framework, placing steel wires at three-centimeter intervals on average.”
A 22-meter-tall, endearing beast named “Niannian” has become a favorite among children. Equipped with long-distance voice interaction technology, it can “understand” visitors’ commands and engage in smooth, natural dialogues. Inside a 30-meter-high auspicious gourd lantern, an integrated sound, light, and electrical projection system animates the domed ceiling, allowing visitors to reach out and seemingly “catch” dynamic light figures falling from above. Since ancient times, lantern viewing has been a cherished Chinese folk custom for celebrating festivals. The Zigong Lantern Festival traces its origins to New Year lighting traditions of the Tang dynasty and is now inscribed on China’s national list of intangible cultural heritage.
Today, with Zigong lanterns showcased in over 500 cities across more than 80 countries and regions worldwide, a traditional folk practice has evolved into a brilliant cultural calling card of China.
The Zigong lantern industry generates over 6 billion yuan in annual output, supporting a workforce of more than 100,000 people and holding an 85% share of the domestic lantern market. In 2025 alone, enterprises in Zigong’s lantern industry delivered 112 lantern projects across 85 cities in 19 countries, including the United States, France, and the Netherlands, with a global market share of 92%.
In March 2025, Zigong Lantern Group entered into long-term cooperation agreements with France’s GL Events Group and Chile’s FISA Group. Under these agreements, the “Chinese Lantern Festival” will be staged on an ongoing basis in both France and Chile.
Source: The People’s Government of Zigong City
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