Mythical creatures and animals illuminated a lantern festival on Friday in Zigong, a city in southwest China, to commemorate the upcoming Lunar New Year of the Horse starting on February 17th. Over 1,200 workers spent weeks creating 200 handmade lanterns, including a 210-meter-long mythological being named “Kunpeng” and a 180-meter-long figure of the Chinese heroine “Mulan.”
The Zigong International Lantern Festival, a yearly event, will continue until the Yuanxiao Festival on March 3rd, marking the conclusion of the Lunar New Year celebrations. Take a glimpse at the stunning displays from the opening night.
Images captured by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters show people enjoying the illuminated installations, including a woman taking a selfie beside a large lantern, and a couple strolling through a light tunnel.
Lanterns hold a significant role in Chinese Lunar New Year festivities, symbolizing luck and guidance. The festival features various lantern shapes and sizes representing animals and buildings, creating a magical atmosphere at night.