The Lantern Festival, also called Shangyuan Festival, is a Chinese traditional festival that falls on the fifteenth day of the first Chinese lunar month, which is February 15 this year. It marks the end of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations and is also regarded as "Valentine's Day in China." In ancient times, people would go out on this day and meet their loved ones in a sea of lanterns.
Solving lantern riddles and enjoying lit lanterns are the traditions of this festival. In Guangdong, where can you attend the lantern shows and experience the culture of the Festival? Here are some recommendations.
Make lanterns @Guangdong Museum (广东省博物馆)
(Photo: Guangdong Museum)
On the Lantern Festival, lion dance performances are often seen in some of the celebrations in Guangdong. Lanterns are quite diverse here too, such as Le'an lantern, Daliang fish lantern, Dongguan Hongmei lantern and Liushuang lantern. Do you want to experience lion dance culture and make lanterns? Then come to the Guangdong Museum on February 15!
Venue: Lobby, second floor, Guangdong Museum (广东省博物馆二楼大堂)
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 & 14:30 - 16:00, February 15, 2022
Add.: No. 2, Zhujiang East Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou (广州市天河区珠江东路2号)
Nearest metro station: Take Metro Line 1 or Line 3, get off at Zhujiang New Town Station and use Exit C.
How to participate: Line up; first come, first served
Lantern Fair @Guangzhou Sunac Land (广州融创乐园)
(Photo: Guangzhou Sunac Land)
For this year's Lantern Festival, Guangzhou Sunac Land will present lantern riddles, lantern shows, a new year market and a circus performance. There is also a special "matchmaker temple", and couples can draw lots with tickets to exchange gifts. In addition, don't forget that admission is free until 15:00 on these days.
Time: 12:00 - 19:00, February 12 to 15, 2022
Add.: No. 78 Fenghuang North Road, Huadu District, Guangzhou (广州市花都区凤凰北路78号)
Lantern riddle fair @Yongqing Fang (永庆坊)
(Photo: Mengbian Art)
In addition to the colorful lanterns, Yongqing Fang will hold a lantern riddle fair this year. Qiu Zhijie, an artist and the dean of the School of Experimental Art of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, will be invited to hold his writing exhibition there. It's reported that the lantern riddle fair will integrate calligraphy with riddles, reinterpret the customs of the festival through young people's "dialogue", and combine Chinese traditional art and contemporary vision.
Time: February 12 to 16, 2022
Add.: No.99 Enning Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou (广州市荔湾区恩宁路99号)
Nearest metro station: Take Metro Line 1 or Line 6, get off at Huangsha Station and use Exit B.
Lantern show at Foshan's @HeyuanGarden (岭南和园)
(Photo: Heyuan)
In Heyuan, a typical Lingnan style garden located in Shunde district, Foshan, you can see lanterns shaped like dancing lions, teapots and swallows. On the night of the Lantern Festival, visitors can also enjoy a poetic and ancient light show.
Time: 18:00-22:30, until March 13, 2022
Add.: No.12 Renchang Road, Beijiao, Shunde, Foshan (佛山市顺德区北滘镇人昌路12号)
Author: Holly
Editor: Wing, Monica, Jerry
