Lantern festival lights up Hengdian in countdown to Lunar New Year

Core Theme - Hengdian World Studios has launched its annual lantern display for the Chinese New Year 2026, showcasing cultural festivities across the city [1] Festival Theme and Installations - This year's lantern festival theme is inspired by Chinese fantasy and film culture, utilizing the Classic of Mountains and Seas as a conceptual foundation, featuring 22 large-scale themed lantern installations arranged into four immersive dreamscapes: Human World, Spirits, Immortals, and Future [2] Festival Highlights - The festival includes intangible cultural heritage fire shows, traditional Chinese magic, and acrobatics, with over 300 costumed characters participating in traditional-style processions and more than 360 performances scheduled daily starting from February 7 [3] Previous Year Comparison - Last year's event focused on Song dynasty aesthetics and was featured in the nationally televised CCTV Lantern Festival Gala, representing Jinhua, Zhejiang, alongside major cities like Harbin, Nanjing, Xi'an, and Kaifeng [5] Expanded Offerings - Hengdian World Studios has expanded its festival offerings this year, incorporating immersive film worlds and traditional parades for guests [5] Music Festival - A six-day New Year OST Music Festival will take place from February 17 to February 23, featuring beloved film and television soundtracks, enhancing the holiday experience with musical nights [6] Additional Attractions - Hengdian International Circus City will host a Clown Carnival, allowing guests to interact with acrobats and magicians, while the Dragon Lantern Cultural Festival at Yuanming Garden will feature daily dragon lantern performances and traditional lantern-making activities [7] New Product Launch - During the festival, Hengdian Travel Photo Services will introduce a cinematic "Enter-the-Drama Family Portrait" product, combining film-set backdrops with professional photography to create memorable family moments [8]