Yuyuan Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival, also known as the Yuyuan Lantern Festival, is a traditional folk activity duri[...]

The Lantern Festival, also known as the Yuyuan Lantern Festival, is a traditional folk activity during the Lantern Festival in the Songjiang area of Shanghai, and it is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. The Yuyuan Lantern Festival in Shanghai covers an area of 5.3 hectares and is held annually from the first to the eighteenth day of the first lunar month in the ancient garden Yuyuan Tourism City, which features the architectural style of gardens from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

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The festival begins with the ‘Lantern Ascension Day’ on the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, which is divided into stages such as ‘Lantern Emanation,’ ‘Lantern Gathering,’ ‘Parading with Lanterns’ (dancing while progressing), ‘Lantern Welcoming,’ ‘Lantern Competition,’ and ‘Lantern Farewell,’ with the eighteenth day marking the ‘Lantern Descension Day.’ During this period, ‘Civil Lantern’ and ‘Martial Lantern’ performances are held on the main streets.

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It has become a local custom to hang lanterns inside houses on the ‘Lantern Ascension Day.’ The culture of the Chinese Zodiac and the Lantern Festival are closely linked, hence the Yuyuan Lantern Festival adopts the ‘Zodiac’ as the annual theme and layout style for the lanterns. The festival is open from February 10th to February 25th.

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