Lantern fairs brighten Chinese heritage

Viewing lanterns became a Spring Festival tradition in Zigong during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and lantern fairs are a time-honored Chinese tradition.

"The city's lantern festival has been held in more than 70 countries and regions around the world, becoming Zigong's calling card," says Yang Bin, deputy chief of the publicity department of the Zigong municipal committee of the Communist Party of China.

Zigong Lantern Festival is known as the best in China and its craftsmen have been invited to make lanterns in Chengdu and Sichuan's Miyi county.

In Chengdu's centuries-old Temple of Marquis Wu, also known as the Chengdu Wuhou Shrine, visitors could spot gigantic lanterns in the shape of Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu, two heroes from the Three Kingdoms (220-280) during this year's Spring Festival temple fair, wrapped up on Feb 12.

In the fair's lantern exhibition area, novel designs were seen everywhere. Among them, the naked-eye dynamic hexagonal palace lantern was spectacular, with its pink-hued shape incarnating a "window". Inside the window were lush flowers, leaves and fluttering, feathered emerald bluebirds appearing to fly out.

In addition, visitors could scan a QR code with their mobile phones to hang their prayer lanterns on auspicious trees.

Xiao Yong, a young visitor from Chengdu, says: "This innovative, interactive approach brings a novel experience to people."