Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of Chinese lunar calendar. It is the first night of the year to see a full moon which is a symbol of happiness. It falls on tomorrow, Mar. 2 this year. During the festival, various folk events, like beating drums, lion dance, watching lanterns and fireworks, are held across the province to pray for good luck and prosperity.
Guangzhou
Yuexiu Temple Fair
As one of the most popular temple fairs in China, Yuexiu Temple Fair is about to begin for the 2018 Lantern Festival. Activities including culture shows, traditional folk parade, intangible cultural heritage handicraft exhibition and food festival will be held during the temple fair.
Opening time: From Mar. 2 to 8, 2018;
Venue: Zhongshan Road and Beijing Road (中山路、北京路);
Admission: Free;
Metro: Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Gongyuanqian, go out at Exit D, then walk about 580m; or take Metro Line 6 and get off at Beijing Road, go out at Exit B, then walk about 980m.
On-water intangible cultural heritage handicraft exhibition
You can enjoy the charm of Canton Embroidery, olive carving and Canton Porcelain here and experts will show how to make them on site. Read the following information before going there.
Opening time: Canton Embroidery lecture, 16:00-17:20, Mar. 2, 2018; Olive carving lecture, 16:00-17:20, Mar. 3, 2018; Canton Porcelain, 16:00-17:20, Mar. 4, 2018;
Venue: Tianzi Wharf (天字码头);
Admission: Family ticket (an adult with one child) at 138 RMB; Family ticket (two adults with one child) at 188 RMB;
Discount: Get 18 RMB off per group by buying two group tickets and get 28 RMB off per group by buying five group tickets;
Metro: Take Metro Line 6 or 2 and get off at Haizhu Square, go out at Exit A, then walk along the riverside for about 500m.
Yuexiu Lantern Show
Visiting a lantern show during the Spring Festival has become a traditional activity for the Cantonese. Since 2012, Yuexiu Lantern Show had received 100 million tourists. In this year, song and dance show, calligraphy exhibition, photograph exhibition and guessing lantern riddles will be held there.
Opening time: Feb.2 – Mar.4, 2018;
Venue: Yuexiu Park (越秀公园);
Admission: Adult:30 RMB; child(1.2m-1.5m):15 RMB;
1. Free tickets will be provided for those under 6-year-old;
2. Minors and full-time college students aged 6-18 can get 50% off with valid certificate;
Metro: Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Yuexiu Park, go out at Exit B1, then walk towards along Jiefangbei Road about 200m.
Guangzhou Culture Park Lantern Show
A total of 16 specially designed lantern sets and 8 themed landscape garden views will be displayed. A series of traditional activities including dragon and lion dance, riddle games, theatrical performances, Cantonese opera and so on will be held.
Opening time: Mar.2-4,2018;
Lantern show: 18:00-20:00, Mar.1; 18:00-22:30, Mar.2; 18:00-21:30, Mar.3-4;
Admission: Free;
Venue: Guangzhou Culture Park (广州文化公园);
Metro: Take Metro Line 6 and get off at Culture Park, then go out at Exit A.
2018 Guangzhou Light Concert Show
Starting from Feb. 12, the 2018 Guangzhou Light Concert Show is held at Haixinsha Asian Olympic Games Park, staging a breathtaking world-class light concert show. Live concerts are staged in the square with the magnificent night view of CBD Guangzhou as the backdrop. A 7-meter-high bud statue is placed at Huacheng Square, and Liede Bridge is decorated with new lights.
Opening time: 7:15-10:00 pm, Feb. 15 – Mar. 2, 2018;
Admission: Free;
Venue: Haixinsha Asian Olympic Games Park (海心沙亚运公园);
Metro: Take Line 3 or Line 5 and get off at Zhujiang New Town, then go out at Exit B1;
APM: Take APM line and get off at Guangzhou Opera House, then go out at Exit E.
Other cities in Pearl River Delta
Spring Festival Temple Fair in Shenzhen
Time: March 2nd to 4th,2018;
Activities: Food, lantern show, lantern riddles, etc;
Venue: Splendid China Folk Culture Village, Shennan Avenue, Nanshan District,
Shenzhen City (深圳市南山区深南大道锦绣中华民俗村)
“Crossing Tongji Bridge” in Foshan
Time: Mar. 2-3, 2018 (the 15th/16th day of the first lunar month);
Activities: Parade withpinwheel, wind-bell and lettuce through Tongji Bridge;
Venue: Tongji Square, Chancheng District, Foshan City (佛山市禅城区通济广场).
West Guangdong
Light Festivals in Zhanjiang
Time: February 14th to March 18th, Light Festival in Forest Park of Sanling Mountain (三岭山森林公园);
February 14th to March 3rd, Light Festival in Yutang Fu Luogang Town (御唐府螺岗小镇);
February 14th to March 18th, Light Festival in Colorful Sharing Garden (湛江缤纷分享园).
East Guangdong
Recreational Activities in Chaozhou
Time: March 1st to March 7th, 2018;
Activities: Performances of Chaozhou Opera;
Venue: People’s Square, Chaozhou City (潮州市人民广场).
North Guangdong
Fire Dragon Dances in Shaoguan
Time: Mar. 2, 2018 (Lantern Festival);
Activities: Performances of Fire Dragon Dances;
Venue: Liuwu Village, Siqian Town, Shixing County, Shaoguan City (韶关市始兴县司前镇刘屋村).
(Authors: Hu Jun, Zhang Yunzi (interns); Editors: Wing Zhang, Monica Liu)
