The Lantern Festival (Yuyuan Lantern Festival) is a traditional folk activity during the Lantern Festival in the Songjiang area of Shanghai, and it is one of the national intangible cultural heritages. The Shanghai Yuyuan Lantern Festival covers an area of 5.3 hectares and is held annually from the first day to the eighteenth day of the first lunar month in the ancient garden Yuyuan Tourism City, which features the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties’ southern gardens. The lantern festival takes the thirteenth day of the first lunar month as the day to light the lanterns, and is divided into ‘Lantern Display’, ‘Lantern Gathering’, ‘Parading with Lanterns’ (dancing while advancing), ‘Lantern Welcoming’, ‘Lantern Competition’, and ‘Lantern Farewell’. The eighteenth day is the day to extinguish the lanterns. During this period, ‘Civil Lantern’ and ‘Martial Lantern’ performances are held on the streets. It has become a local custom to hang lanterns inside the house on the day of lighting the lanterns. There is a close connection between the culture of the Chinese zodiac and the Lantern Festival customs, hence Yuyuan Lantern Festival uses ‘Chinese Zodiac’ as the annual theme and layout style for the lanterns. Opening hours: February 10th to February 25th.
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