As is customary, China is always first of the forefront and creativity, and in this context, “the largest lantern fair in history” is held in Beijing.
The fair attracts not only the inhabitants of the country, but is also a new attraction that adds to the grid of activities for the millions of tourists who come to China every year.
That’s why those who visit Beijing between September 14 and October 31, will enjoy, among other things, the visit to the Great Wall – one of the New 7 Wonders of the World – but they will also come across this great staging of lanterns.
The fair has more than 200 creative games of different sizes according to the Beijing Daily, and takes place from 4 pm to 11 pm, every day at the Beijing Garden Expo Park.
“It is the longest, largest and most intricate ever held in Beijing,” said an executive of the event’s host company.
The lantern fair consists of nine main themed areas with themes such as festivals, beautiful landscapes, Beijing culture and colorful childhood.
Among the 200 sets of lanterns on display, there are 75 sets of large and medium-sized lanterns. In total, a total of 100,000 colorful ornaments are exhibited in the nine areas.
China’s national intangible cultural heritage, the Sichuan Zigong lantern, also shines at the Beijing fair.
70 percent of the bluffs are tailor-made for the Beijing fair. The event is expected to show the essence of the capital’s culture, inspired by cultural relics, traditional Chinese paintings, poetry and the Opera. The fair will cover a creative integration of the famous Zigong lantern and Beijing culture.
The lantern fair will also exhibit several innovative lantern installations with ingenious designs, unique shapes and new advances in creativity and technology, providing visitors with an unprecedented visual experience.
A Phoenix-shaped lantern installation will be the first in the world to combine colored blown paper and transparent acrylic materials.
The 10-meter-high “Phoenix” is adorned with 40,000 feathers meticulously cut by hand by more than 20 Zigong lantern artisans. It’s been a hard work of two months. Only a 7-meter-long tail plume of the “Phoenix” required tens of thousands of cuts, and in total 8 million cuts have been made to form the entire installation.
In addition, the adoption of the mechanical transmission technology for the neck of the “Phoenix” will allow this auspicious and colorful “king of the birds” to nod and greet the audience.
More than 150 distinctive stores were installed at the venue of the event to offer a wide range of services and products, including established brands and items related to intangible, cultural and creative heritage, as well as a wide variety of dining options.
During the lantern fair, more than 20 thematic activities are held, including singing and dancing shows, theatrical performances and cultural activities that integrate traditional and modern Chinese culture.
Visitors can also participate in various interactive activities, such as the elaboration of handicrafts with techniques of intangible cultural heritage, riddles with lanterns and poetry recitals.