Light up your Spring Festival holiday with a stroll to Beijing's lantern festivals! Whether you're exploring the profound heritage of royal New Year customs or eager to check out trendy fusion of "Guochao" (China-Chic) and sci-fi, there's always a display of lights that will create a unique memory just for you.

First Lantern-Themed Night Tour of Yuanmingyuan

With five themed sections and more than 40 sets of large-scale lantern installations, this event recreates the grand scene of an imperial lantern celebration during the Qianlong period (1736-1796) of the Qing Dynasty. Visitors can touch and interact with the "Touching Stone Monkey" (摸石猴) lantern set, and watch fantastic scenes created by the lighting effects. Robot dance performances will add a futuristic touch to the event.

Venue: Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park

Time: February 10–March 3

18th Solana Light Festival

The festival integrates paper-cuttings from the Lingnan region (a region in the south of the Nanling Mountains), an intangible cultural heritage item, transforming traditional 2D paper cuts into 3D light installations. Designs based on the five traditional auspicious mythical creatures are also displayed on site, symbolizing the blessings of "Fu (Fortune), Lu (Prosperity), Shou (Longevity), Xi (Joy), and Cai (Wealth)".

Time: Until March 15

Venue: Solana

Tiangong Lantern Festival at Beijing Expo Park

The park features over 50 lantern sets made with intangible cultural heritage techniques, which are arranged along a 2.5-kilometer route. These displays recreate iconic scenes such as the Southern Heavenly Gate and the Peach Garden in the animated film "Havoc in Heaven", adapted from the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West. A special space-themed exhibition in front of the park's botanical garden showcases aerospace equipment such as Tiangong space station's core module and the Chang'e lunar probe. By integrating traditional lantern craftsmanship with digital technologies, the event offers an immersive journey that spans from ancient mythology to outer space.

Venue: Beijing Expo Park

Time: January 23–March 8

40th Longqing Gorge International Ice Lantern Art Festival

The gorge looks like a crystal palace for dragons, recreating the classic episode of "Getting Treasure from Dragon Palace" (adapted from the Journey to the West) through ice sculptures. Light effects penetrate the ice to create a magical realm highlighted by the legendary 72 transformations of the Monkey King, blending ice and snow landscapes with Chinese aesthetics to present a unique winter audiovisual extravaganza.

Venue: Longqing Gorge Scenic Area

Time: January 15–Early March

Jingcai New Year Lantern Carnival at Beijing World Park

Featuring seven themed exhibition areas with 180 creative light installations, this event deeply integrates intangible cultural heritage lantern craftsmanship with miniatures of global landmarks. Visitors can interact with the mechanical steed titled "Instant Success" (马到成功), ride the "Dreamy Unicorn" (梦幻独角兽) carriage through the miniatures of world-famous landmarks, and marvel at the beauty of a traditional costume worn by the "Jingcai Goddess" (京彩女神).

Venue: Beijing World Park

Time: January 24–March 1

2026 Moshikou Spring Lantern Festival

A total of 12 sets of lantern installations based on the Year of the Horse will vividly recreate the festive atmosphere of the Ancient Camel Bell Road in western Beijing. You can touch the "Horse Carrying Great Orange" (马上大桔) lantern installation for a lucky beginning for the Chinese New Year, admire the dynamic lighting effects of "Auspicious Horse Greets Spring" (瑞马迎春), and immerse yourself in the festive charm of this millennium-old road amid the dazzling interplay of lights.

Venue: Moshikou Historical and Cultural Block

Time: January 26–March 3

Daxing Colorful Lantern World

This year's lantern festival here integrates innovative technologies such as holographic projections, smart sensing, and dynamic lighting. By tracking the real-time positions of visitors, it dynamically adjusts light effects to build the park into a fully immersive, illuminated space.

Venue: World Chinese Rose Theme Park

Time: February 6–March

[Photo via BRTV]

[Photo via BRTV]

Thousands of Lanterns Greeting New Year at Beijing International Flower Port

The event blends traditional Chinese lantern artistry with regional cultural elements, presenting a series of beautifully themed lantern installations. It includes a China-chic market and a food street to satisfy both culinary and festive shopping needs of visitors. In addition, lively folk tours and interactive performances of intangible cultural heritage enrich the atmosphere.

Venue: Beijing International Flower Port

Time: February 10–March 3

[Photo via Beijing Daily App]

[Photo via Beijing Daily App]

[Photo via Beijing Daily App]

"Fortune Horse Welcomes Spring in Vibrant Miyun" — 2026 Lantern Festival for the Year of the Horse

With an exhibition space of over 10,000 square meters, the festival features a 2.5-kilometer night tour route that connects four thematic zones and 24 signature lantern installations. It artfully blends Year of the Horse zodiac culture and festive blessings with Miyun's unique natural charm and the architectural aesthetics of the castle. The castle light show is a breathtaking spectacle you simply cannot miss!

Time: 15:00–22:00, February 6–March 3

Venue: Chateau Changyu AFIP Global, Miyun District, Beijing

(Sources: Official WeChat accounts of Beijing Haidian, Beijing Yanqing, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Beijing Shijingshan, Beijing Daxing, the Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau; Shengtai Miyun, Beijing Daily, and Beijing Youth Daily)