40th Qinhuai & 3rd Yili River Lantern Fair Lights Up the Night

The 40th China Qinhuai Lantern Fair and the 3rd Yili River Lantern Fair have officially kicked off at the Yili River Scenic Area. As night falls, the frontier landscape is bathed in a warm, nostalgic glow. Entrusted with the full scope of design and construction, Yashi Culture has adhered to authentic traditional Chinese aesthetics, integrating time-honored intangible cultural heritage (ICH) lantern-making techniques with Lunar New Year customs to deliver a culturally rich, immersive experience that resonates with visitors of all ethnic backgrounds. Guided by the principle of “upholding heritage through meticulous craftsmanship,” the company has created over 40 exquisitely detailed lantern sets, each rooted in Chinese symbolic culture.

 

 

The 15-meter-high main lantern “Prosperous Heavenly Steed” takes center stage as a majestic tribute to the Year of the Horse. Crafted with hand-bent steel frames and adorned with shimmering gold foil, the steed’s flowing mane and lifted hooves come alive with soft, shifting lights, embodying wishes for vitality and success. Elsewhere, “Elegant Charm of Qinhuai” recreates Jiangnan water town poetry with delicate paper pavilions, winding stone bridges, and painted boats “floating” above reflective surfaces, while the “Auspicious Beasts Blessing” series shines with lifelike qilin, golden toads, and leaping koi—all hand-painted with intricate natural pigment patterns. Additional highlights include the joyful “Two Horses Celebrating Spring,” abundance-themed “Surplus Year After Year,” and tranquil “Lotus Breeze Carrying Fragrance,” each crafted via traditional bamboo framing, silk pasting, and hand-cut paper techniques to preserve ICH essence.

 

 

More than a visual spectacle, the fair serves as a vital cultural exchange bridge between Nanjing and Yining. Yashi Culture’s dedication to authenticity has allowed Qinhuai’s millennia-old lantern art to thrive at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, blending southern elegance with northern grandeur. As visitors wander lantern-lit paths, they don’t just admire the lights—they feel tradition’s warmth, craftsmen’s skill, and cultural unity, making this celebration a meaningful step in deepening bonds and enriching local spiritual life.