The 32nd Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival Lights Up, Launching a Fantastical Journey of Light and Shadow

ZIGONG, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On the evening of January 23, the lighting ceremony of the 32nd Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival, organized by the Zigong Cultural Tourism Development Group, was held alongside the provincial Spring Festival cultural tourism and consumption promotion campaign. On the eve of the Lunar New Year of the Horse, a vibrant cultural tourism spectacle—using lanterns as a medium to blend tradition with modernity—officially opened to the public.

Under the theme “Lanterns Painting China, Building Dreams for the Future,” this year’s festival features ten themed sections. By combining large-scale and medium-sized lantern installations and integrating intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship with digital technology, the festival offers an immersive artistic experience.

For the first time, the festival presents a centralized display of lantern installations made from diverse materials such as blue-and-white porcelain, straw, and recycled medicine bottles, highlighting the innovative integration of environmental awareness and traditional techniques. Technological interactivity is a major highlight, like bionic robotic dinosaurs, AI-powered interactive systems, synchronized sound, light, water, and electrical effects, as well as the fully interactive “Fantasy Light Park,” enhancing visitor participation.

Creative lantern design further elevates the visitor experience. “Echoes of the Salt Capital” blends traditional paper quilling with colored lantern craftsmanship, while the “Tree of Life” entrance incorporates dynamic sound-and-light interactions. The “Azure Skies” installation creates a poetic cascade of light and shadow. The centerpiece installation, “Magical China,” draws inspiration from the mythical Kunpeng, presenting a grand narrative that intertwines China’s space exploration achievements with ancient legends.

In addition, the festival has introduced a dedicated travel photography zone stretching over 300 meters. Blending classical Chinese aesthetics with cyberpunk elements and complemented by promenade-style performances, it delivers an experience where “every step reveals a scene and every scene tells a story.” In celebration of the Year of the Horse, the “Legend of Mulan” lantern installation unfolds a seven-chapter narrative conveying themes of family, patriotism, and cultural heritage, echoing the spirit of the Spring Festival.

Through creative materials, immersive technology, refined design and rich cultural storytelling, the Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival presents a visual spectacle that seamlessly combines traditional charm with contemporary vitality.