CHENGDU -- Scenes from the Chinese legend of the White Snake, an 8-meter-tall giant panda, and lifelike dinosaurs -- these elements come to life in a dazzling lantern world, casting a magical glow over the night sky of Zigong city in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

Known as China's "City of Lanterns," Zigong hosts its grand international lantern festival from Jan 17 to the end of March. As of Feb 12, the event had already attracted nearly 1.15 million visitors from around the world.

Covering more than 425,000 square meters with an investment of 170 million yuan (about $23.7 million), the 2025 festival features over 200 lantern sets. The 2025 edition of the festival is the largest in scale in its entire history.

As Zigong's lanterns gain global recognition, their vibrant glow is now illuminating cities worldwide.

TRADITION PASSES ON

The tradition of celebrating Spring Festival with lantern displays in Zigong dates back to the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279). In 1964, the city's government officially organized its first Spring Festival lantern fair. In 2008, the Zigong Lantern Festival was inscribed on China's national list of intangible cultural heritage.

Today, 11 recognized inheritors of the craft are dedicated to preserving and innovating the art of lantern-making.

Zigong's flourishing lantern industry has over 1,000 lantern-related enterprises, employs up to 130,000 people and enjoys an annual output of 6 billion yuan.

At this year's festival, one of the most eye-catching installations is a towering giant panda lantern, surrounded by adorable animals such as golden snub-nosed monkeys and alpacas. Upon closer inspection, the panda's fur appears remarkably lifelike, a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship that went into creating it.

"This set of panda lanterns took over a month to complete, and it was entirely crafted by hand," said Liu Juncai, one of the craftsmen, adding that the combination of panda along with other animal lanterns offers a unique way to showcase the province's ecological charm.

The 59-year-old has been crafting lanterns for over three decades and has participated in 16 consecutive Zigong Lantern Festivals.

"Each year, the festival needs to be more innovative than the last, which presents a great challenge for us. To create even more spectacular lanterns, we must keep pace with new technologies and modern techniques," he said.

This year's festival has incorporated cutting-edge materials and AI technology, blending tradition with innovation to create a truly immersive experience for visitors.

LIGHTING UP THE WORLD

Since their international debut in Singapore in 1990, Zigong's lanterns have illuminated over 80 countries and regions, emerging as a global cultural phenomenon.

In 2024 alone, a total of 104 Zigong lantern exhibition projects were held in 67 cities across 23 countries, marking a 15.6 percent year-on-year increase.

The festival's global expansion has also been fueled by a new generation of lantern entrepreneurs.

Lan Yang, marketing director at Zigong Star Factory Lantern Ltd., has been instrumental in expanding the company's international footprint. Since taking over his family business in 2020, Lan has leveraged social media platforms like YouTube to promote Zigong lantern artistry worldwide.

Lan attributes the global success of Zigong lanterns to their adaptability and customization.

In celebration of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore, Lan and his team designed lanterns for Singapore's Chinatown. They added Singapore's national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim, into their creations, alongside traditional symbols such as longevity peaches and prosperity trees and a snake to mark the Year of the Snake.

"I come here to take photos every year. The design and structure of the lanterns change every year. This year's snake design looks more cartoonish and appealing, and the Vanda Miss Joaquim's design and colors are also quite vibrant," said Singaporean citizen Leong Kwong Lee, adding that Singapore and China have always maintained close exchanges, and people continue to connect, communicate, and visit one another.

"I was little scared of the Year of the Snake, but it's a very appealing snake. It looks very friendly with a nice smile. I think it suggests that the next year is going to be very good," said Thomas Coffman, an American visitor in Singapore.

Beyond Singapore, Zigong's lanterns have brightened cities around the globe this Spring Festival, including New York, Houston, Paris and Dublin, spreading light, joy and festive blessings worldwide.