The Lantern Festival starts on the 15th day of the first lunar month, its arrival also marks the end of the Spring Festival celebrations. The beauty of the lanterns are admired at night during the event and huge lanterns are held at exhibitions throughout the country. The Zingong Lantern Show in Southwest China and the Yuyuan Lantern Show in East China are lantern shows with traditional details in each lantern to fit the ancient theme. The Qinhuai Lantern Show in Nanjing in East China is the one of the most famous shows in China that dates back more than 1,700 years and is held annually during the Lantern Festival, it says open for more than 50 days making it one of China's cultural heritages. It's also the longest running, most attended and grandest lantern show in China.
Gu Yeliang is a native of Nanjing and is an inheritor of Qinhuai Lantern making, a national untouchable cultural heritage. He started making Lanterns when he was only eight. Over the past 40 years, he traveled to 47 countries and sent the art of Qinhuai lanterns to outside countries. With the growing number of Chinese people living all over the world, people are gaining interest of Chinese culture. Lantern shows are held every year in many countries and states to celebrate the Lantern Festival. Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand, has hosted 20 Lantern Festival shows. There are also regional changes between China's lantern art culture. Lanterns with lit candles are signs that they are from the South.
In Northeast China, the Lanterns in Habrin have one-of-a-kind scenery. Beautiful ice sculptures in unique shapes create a dream of crystallized reflections of colour and light. In addition to viewing lanterns, there is one more custom of the Lantern Festival that can't be missed, eat tangyuan, or glutinous rice balls. The fillings can be sweet with sesame or jujube paste, or savory with minced meat and veggies. These sweet balls are molded from glutinous rice flour the symbolize the wholesomeness of family. Sometimes, people will pickout a tangyuan and put in a rare "stuffing" such as money and the person who bites onto that coin is said to be blessed with good luck in the new year. The lantern festival is the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations. For those working or studying away from home is time to say bye to their families and set out on a journey in a brand new year.
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