Guangzhou’s 2026 Spring Festival Lantern Festival opened on January 30, weaving tapestries of light and tradition into the city at night.

Under the theme “Cantonese Rhymes Through Millennia, Global Unity in Heart,” the festival centers on Yuexiu Park as its main venue, with seven additional parks across Guangzhou joining as collaborative branches.

This year’s edition features 85 elaborate lantern sets and tens of thousands of auxiliary lights, divided into three immersive thematic loops: the “Millennial Cantonese Ring,” the “Future Coexistence Ring,” and the “Vitality Park Ring”.  

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Highlights include a majestic 20-meter-high “Awakening Lion” gate at the park’s entrance, symbolizing Lingnan culture’s vitality, and a breathtaking 100-meter-long “Galloping Horses” installation over the park’s Beihu Lake, echoing the upcoming Year of the Horse.

Beyond static displays, the event offers a dynamic calendar of over 1,200 activities, including Cantonese opera performances, cosplay parades, APEC-themed markets, and traditional lantern riddle games. Collaborating venues like Liuhua Lake Park and Guangzhou Zoo add their own flair with flower markets, animal-themed celebrations, and night tours.

The festival runs through March 8.  

Experience the splendor through the lens of China Daily photographer Parker Zheng.