As the grand finale of the Chinese New Year (aka Spring Festival) celebrations, the Lantern Festival lit up Guangdong with dazzling festivities, seamlessly blending centuries-old traditions with modern innovations. From breathtaking lantern displays to lively parades, temple fairs, and cultural performances, the province was alive with color and energy. Let's take you on a journey through the highlights, and you can click the hyperlinks in the article to learn more!
The Lantern Festival marks the first full moon of the Year of the Snake. Did you catch a glimpse of the festival night's radiant full moon?
Full moon on the festival night (Photo: Xinhua)
For food lovers, no Lantern Festival celebration is complete without glutinous rice balls (Yuanxiao), a traditional delicacy symbolizing unity. GDToday reporters sampled several flavors—curious about their taste and appearance? Check it out. 👉Yuanxiao Taste Test: Try something different this Lantern Festival!
Festivities across Guangdong
Lantern Festival celebrations took place in cities across Guangdong Province.
In Guangzhou, the Yuexiu Temple Fair kicked off on February 12, offering seven days of diverse festivities featuring lion dances, Cantonese opera, traditional crafts, and gourmet delights.
Guangzhou Cultural Park also illuminated the city with an enchanting lantern display from February 11 to 13, incorporating eco-friendly designs and showcasing Lingnan culture.
Elsewhere, the Huangpu Lantern Festival at Luogang Xiangxue Park is keeping the celebrations alive until February 28.
Performance on the opening day of the 2025 Yuexiu Temple Fair (Photo: Guangzhou Yuexiu Fabu)
Lantern display at Guangzhou Cultural Park (Photo: Liwan District Publicity Department)
(Photo: Publicity Department of Huangpu District)
Meanwhile, Dongguan hosted over 120 events to mark the occasion.
In Zhongshan, the city's signature Charity Parade once again highlighted the region's deep-rooted traditions of generosity and community spirit.
In Yunfu's Yunan County, annual firecracker ceremonies filled villages with festive cheer.
In Foshan, the ancient tradition of Crossing Tongji Bridge drew over a million participants, who carried windmills and lettuce to pray for prosperity.
Lanterns in Dongguan (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Zhongshan's Charity Parade (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Firecracker ceremony in Yunan County (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Festivities beyond Guangdong
Foshan's Spring Festival traditions also made their way to the UK, where five floats gifted by Foshan's Chancheng District took part in the Chinese New Year parade in Medway.
The scene of the Chinese New Year Parade in Medway, UK (Photo: Liu Fengxiao)
The Lantern Festival was also celebrated in Harbin, a city in northeastern China currently hosting the 9th Asian Winter Games. Xu Mengtao, China's first Grand Slam champion in snow sports, extended her best wishes for a wonderful Lantern Festival to the people of Guangdong—and even shared her love for Cantonese dim sum, especially chicken feet! Meanwhile, a Russian volunteer at the Games was mesmerized by traditional Chinese shadow puppetry, experiencing firsthand the magic of cultural exchange.
Digital Creativity lights up the festival
Technology added a modern twist to this year's celebrations. Following recent viral video trends, AI tools transformed Guangdong landmarks and Foshan's Lingnan-style sculptures—into adorable plush toy designs.
As lanterns fade and festivities wind down, Guangdong's rich cultural celebrations continue in Guangzhou, Foshan, Chaoshan, and western Guangdong, offering an even more enjoyable experience for those looking to avoid peak travel crowds.
Despite the recent cold and rainy weather, the Lantern Festival in Guangdong remained as vibrant as ever.
Author | Chen Longyan
Editor | Wei Shen, James, Shen He
