The Number One Lantern Under Heaven: Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival and the Fantasy of Light

The "Number One Lantern" in the World

As night falls, a sea of lights awakens, transforming the city into a dreamscape of color and motion. This is the Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival, widely acclaimed as "The Number One Lantern Under Heaven." Located in the China Lantern World (Zhonghua Caideng Dashijie) in the Yantan District of Zigong City, Sichuan Province, this spectacular event is a National 4A Tourist Attraction and a National Night Culture and Tourism Consumption Agglomeration Area. Zigong, known historically for its salt production, has cultivated a lantern-making tradition that spans over 800 years, dating back to the Tang and Song dynasties. Today, the festival is not merely a display of static lanterns but a massive, immersive theme park that combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. It stands as the permanent venue for the festival, covering a vast area where hundreds of large-scale lantern groups illuminate the night sky. With a reputation that has crossed oceans—having been exhibited in over 90 countries and attracted hundreds of millions of viewers globally—the Zigong Lantern Festival is a brilliant business card for Chinese culture and a must-visit destination for anyone seeking the ultimate oriental fantasy,.

1.A Legacy of 800 Years: Craftsmanship and History

2.The origins of the Zigong Lantern: Festival can be traced back to the custom of burning lamps during the New Year in the Tang and Song dynasties, which evolved into the "Lion Lantern Market" and "Lantern Pole Festival" during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The prosperity of the salt merchants in Zigong provided the economic foundation for these increasingly lavish displays. The festival is renowned for its unique manufacturing techniques, particularly the "wire frame silk pasting" and "color separation" processes. Skilled artisans create intricate frames from wire, cover them with silk fabrics, and hand-paint details to bring mythical creatures, historical figures, and landscapes to life. One of the most distinct features is the use of special materials; visitors can marvel at "porcelain lanterns" made from hundreds of thousands of bound porcelain bowls, spoons, and plates, or "feather lanterns" crafted from glass bottles and peacock feathers. In 2006, the Zigong Lantern Festival was listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, solidifying its status as a masterpiece of Chinese folk art that continues to innovate while preserving ancient skills,.

Jurassic Fantasy: Dinosaurs Come Alive

Zigong is famous not only for its lanterns and salt but also as the "Hometown of Dinosaurs." The festival perfectly integrates this identity into its displays, creating a unique "Dinosaur Valley" or "Life Valley" sector that sets it apart from any other lantern festival in the world. Here, the lanterns are not just glowing static objects; they are animatronic marvels. Utilizing "simulation mechanics," life-sized dinosaurs roar, move, and interact with visitors, creating a Jurassic Park-like experience amidst the lights. From the massive Mamenchisaurus to the fierce Yangchuanosaurus, these lantern-dinosaurs are reconstructed based on the fossils found in the region, such as those from the famous Dashanpu site. Recent editions have introduced AR (Augmented Reality) and AI interactions, allowing tourists to "travel back" to the prehistoric era and engage with these ancient beasts in a gamified environment, making it a paradise for children and dinosaur enthusiasts alike,.

A Fusion of Technology and Tradition

3.The modern Zigong Lantern: Festival is a feast of "sound, light, and electricity." Moving beyond traditional methods, the festival now incorporates cutting-edge technology such as naked-eye 3D projections, water screen light shows, and drone performances to tell stories of Chinese history and mythology. The park is divided into thematic zones like "Splendid China," where elements like the Dunhuang flying apsaras are recreated with wire-free craftsmanship to look as if they are floating in the air. The "Creative Light World" often features imaginative works based on children's drawings from around the world, turned into three-dimensional lantern sculptures. The layout is designed to be immersive, with 360-degree performances and interactive installations where the lights change color or sound upon touch. Whether it is a giant mechanical dragon spiraling into the sky or a reproduction of the "Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" painting, the visual impact is overwhelming, blending the charm of ancient festivals with the excitement of a cyberpunk future.

A Carnival of Salt and Light

A visit to the Zigong Lantern Festival is also a journey into the local lifestyle. The festival grounds are bustling with activity, featuring "Salt Gang" cuisine food courts where visitors can taste spicy and flavorful local dishes like Cold Eating Rabbit (Leng Chi Tu) and spicy beef. Cultural performances such as Sichuan Opera face-changing, acrobatics, and folk dances are staged throughout the park, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. During the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), the festive spirit reaches its peak with activities like floating river lanterns and iron flower fireworks (molten iron splashing). The festival usually runs from mid-January to May, making it a seasonal highlight that draws millions of tourists. It represents the soul of Zigong—a city that has transformed its industrial salt heritage and paleontological discoveries into a dazzling cultural phenomenon that lights up the night.