Lantern Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month, marks the first full moon of the new year and the end of the Chinese Spring Festival. In Guangzhou, people celebrate the festival in a distinct Cantonese style, admiring colorful lanterns and solving lantern riddles with families and friends in public parks.
Photo by 中国广州发布
Enjoy festive vibes at fantasy land of Lingnan lanterns
The Lantern Fair at the Guangzhou Cultural Park is a beloved event for the local citizens and visitors during the Lantern Festival. This year, the Fair kicked off on February 25th and will last till tonight, with lights turning on at 18:00 and off at 22:00.
From handmade paper lanterns and palace lanterns of earlier years to the modern LED displays and light shows of today, the Fair has preserved traditional Lingnan culture while embracing innovation.
This year, the Fair features nearly 1,000 intangible cultural heritage lanterns with elements of Lingnan culture and the year of the horse, 22 large-scale lantern installations, and 22,000 seasonal potted flowers.
Photos by 中国广州发布
The Spring welcoming-themed lanterns integrate classic Lingnan architectural elements, such as the arcade architecture, Manchurian window carvings, and Cantonese porcelain. Horses paired with the "Fu (福)" characters and oranges symbolize wishing the audience instant success and good fortune.
Photo by 中国广州发布
The floral lanterns highlight the cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, featuring landmarks such as the Canton Tower in Guangzhou, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the Ruins of St. Paul's in Macao.
Photo by 中国广州发布
For the "Cantonese opera" themed lanterns, visitors can scan QR codes to listen to classic excerpts from the beautiful, renowned Cantonese Opera Di Nü Hua (a story about the Ming Dynasty Princess Changping).
Photo by Guangzhou Cultural Park
Continuing the park's chess culture, this year's fair creates a "Chess & Lantern Fantasy Land" for visitors. During the festival, the National Chess Championship Finals and an Intangible Cultural Heritage Carnival are held simultaneously, creating an immersive experience of lantern viewing, competitions, and local delicacies.
Visitors can play chess against AI robots, experience intangible cultural heritage crafts such as Cantonese porcelain and embroidery, taste local snacks including radish beef offal (萝卜牛杂), double-layer milk pudding (双皮奶), and water chestnut cake (马蹄糕), and browse festive markets for unique souvenirs.
Photo by Guangzhou Cultural Park
Guangzhou Cultural Park, a pioneer of Guangzhou's modern Lantern Fair
The earliest recorded lantern festival activities in Guangzhou date back to the Southern Han Dynasty (917–971 AD) at Liurong Temple. However, it was Guangzhou Cultural Park that pioneered the city's modern public lantern displays, beginning in 1956.
Located in Liwan District, the park lies at the heart of the former Thirteen Hongs area, a key hub along the ancient Maritime Silk Road during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912 AD) and a witness to Guangzhou's long history as a global trading port.
In 1951, Guangzhou Cultural Park hosted the South China Native Products Exhibition. Photo by Guangzhou Cultural Park
In 1951, the park hosted the South China Native Products Exhibition, a direct predecessor of the Canton Fair. This event embodied the city's enduring spirit of openness, reinforcing its role as a gateway to the world.
Officially named Guangzhou Cultural Park in 1956, it became one of China's first parks dedicated to culture. It serves as a showcase for Lingnan culture, offering education, entertainment, and strong support for Cantonese painting, opera, chess, and gardening. With numerous exhibition halls, a central stage, opera venues, storytelling corners, and chess areas, it hosts a wide variety of events year-round for visitors and enthusiasts, including opera performances, chess tournaments, and art exhibitions.
People solving lantern riddles with families and friends in the park, photo by Guangzhou Cultural Park
In 1956, the park held its first Lantern Fair, which attracted widespread public enthusiasm. After decades of development, it has become a landmark lantern event in Guangdong and a guardian of Lingnan lantern-making craftsmanship. Since 2006, the Lantern Fair has been combined with the Spring Festival Flower Fair.
Spring Festival Flower Fair held by the Guangzhou Cultural Park, photo by Guangzhou Cultural Park
Despite the fairs above, the park has preserved another two cherished annual traditions for more than 70 years: the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival and the Chrysanthemum Fair. These events have become cultural institutions deeply embedded in the city's collective memory.
Address: No.37 Xidi 2nd Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou City
Event Time: 18:00-22:00, 25 February - 3 March, 2026
Reporter丨Zhou Jiyin, Wang Shuhan
Editor | Yin Juewen
Poster丨Yang Chenyue