Light up your Lantern Festival in Guangdong

The Lantern Festival, also known as Yuanxiao Festival, falls on March 3 this year. It has long been celebrated with lantern displays and lively nighttime gatherings. As dusk settles, glowing lanterns illuminate streets and parks, while families stroll, admire intricate designs, and solve lantern riddles. Across Guangdong, major lantern fairs are already underway and will continue through the festival. Here are some highlights.

2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Lantern Carnival, Guangzhou

Spanning about 533,000 square meters with a 2.5-kilometer main route, this large-scale carnival features five themed zones and over 100 lantern installations. Displays range from cyber-inspired "magic forests" and galaxy walks to classical Chinese scenes, alongside lantern installations inspired by popular IPs such as "Honor of Kings" and the mascots of China's 15th National Games.

(Photo: Greater Bay Area Lantern Carnival)

The fair is designed as an immersive "fantasy wonderland," incorporating VR interaction, AI elements, holographic projections and a 1.3-kilometer rail train. Drone shows, themed performances and festive bazaars add to the carnival atmosphere.

(Photo: Greater Bay Area Lantern Carnival)

Time: Until May 10, 2026

Venues: Nansha Tianhou Palace Scenic Area (南沙天后宫) & Binhai Park (滨海公园)

Addresses:

Nansha Tianhou Palace Scenic Area: No. 88 Tianhou Road, Dajiao Mountain, Nansha District, Guangzhou (广州市南沙区大角山天后路88号)

Binhai Park: West Ring Road, Nansha District, Guangzhou (广州市南沙区环岛西路)

Ticket: 168 yuan

More lantern fairs in Guangzhou:

Yuexiu Park, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Guangzhou Orchid Garden, Liuhua Lake Park, Guangzhou Zoo, Yunluo Botanical Garden, Haizhu Square, Guangzhou Cultural Park (越秀公园、中山纪念堂、广州兰圃、流花湖公园、广州动物园、云萝植物园、海珠广场、广州文化公园): Until March 8

Grandview Mall (正佳广场), Outlets Holiday (广州8号仓): Until March 15

Honor of Kings themed lantern fair, Shenzhen

This year, OCT Harbour joins hands with the hit game "Honor of Kings" and Zigong intangible cultural heritage lantern artisans to recreate a glowing "King's Canyon" in real life. Game characters appear throughout the venue, including a 14-meter Nyuwa lantern, a Wang Zhaojun feature lantern, and an 11-meter giant Kun lantern, transforming the waterfront area into an immersive fantasy landscape.

(Photo: Shenzhen Weekly)

Time: Until March 3, 2026

Venue: OCT Harbour (欢乐海岸)

Address: No. 2008 Baishi Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen (深圳市南山区白石路2008号)

Ticket: Free

More lantern fairs in Shenzhen:

Xiangmi Park (香蜜公园), Yuanke Park (园科公园): Until March 3

Splendid China · Folk Culture Villages (锦绣中华民俗村), Gankeng Ancient Town (甘坑古镇): Until March 8

2026 Shishan Bo'ai Lake Lantern Fair, Foshan

The largest public welfare lantern fair in Foshan features 13 themed installations along Bo'ai Lake, blending over 300 years of Le'an lantern craftsmanship with local culture and modern design. A 10-meter-tall "Le'an Lantern," crafted using traditional techniques, has become a popular photo spot. Horse-themed lanterns mark the Year of the Horse, while contemporary artistic designs reinterpret traditional lantern art.

(Photo: Nanhai Fabu)

Time: Until March 31 (18:00–22:00)

Venue: East Lawn Plaza, Bo'ai Lake

Address: No. 8 Renmin West Road, Shishan Town, Nanhai District, Foshan (佛山市南海区狮山镇人民西路8号)

Ticket: Free

Huizhou West Lake Lantern Fair

Set against the storied landscape of Huizhou West Lake, once admired by Song dynasty poet Su Shi, this lantern fair blends classical elegance with contemporary design. Under the theme "Spring in Every Household," 35 lantern installations draw inspiration from horses, Su Shi's poetry, local culture and festive traditions.

(Photo: Huizhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau)

At the East Gate, two luminous horse lanterns welcome visitors, while along lakeside paths, warm golden lights shimmer across the water, creating a serene and festive atmosphere.

(Photo: Huizhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau)

Time: Until March 3, 2026

Venue: Huizhou West Lake Scenic Area (惠州西湖景区)

Ticket: Free (Reservation via "惠州西湖景区" WeChat mini-program)

Gongle Lantern Fair, Zhuhai

This year's Gongle Lantern Fair transforms Tangjia Ancient Town into a luminous world inspired by the ancient Chinese classic Classic of Mountains and Seas. A 2-kilometer route showcases 22 intangible cultural heritage lantern installations and immersive scenes drawn from myth and legend. Visitors can also enjoy nightly performances, including molten iron fireworks, charcoal flower dance and Sichuan opera face-changing.

(Photo: Tangjia Ancient Town)

Time: Until March 3, 2026

Venue: Gongle Garden, Tangjia Ancient Town (珠海唐家共乐园)

Address: No. 234 Shanfang Road, Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai (珠海市香洲区山房路234号)

Night Ticket (17:00–22:00): 69 yuan (Monday–Thursday); 99 yuan (Friday–Sunday & holidays)

2026 Lufeng Shanghai Beach Lantern Fair, Shanwei

Set along the coastal promenade of Lufeng Shanghai Beach, this lantern fair blends marine scenery with local culture. The illuminated installations stretch along the shoreline, where glowing lanterns reflect off the waves and boardwalk, creating a vivid contrast between sea and sky.

Daily performances include Five-Color Lion Lantern Dance, while weekend highlights feature Jiazi Yingge dance. A seaside market offers local snacks such as taro cakes and rice pastries, along with lantern-making and embroidery workshops.