• Hengdian World Studios opened its annual lantern display ahead of Chinese New Year 2026, featuring 22 large-scale installations.
  • Themed on the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing), the displays are grouped into four dreamscapes: Human World, Spirits, Immortals and Future.
  • More than 300 costumed performers and over 360 daily shows bring traditional acrobatics, magic and intangible heritage fire shows to visitors.
  • Special events include a six-day New Year OST Music Festival, a Clown Carnival and hands-on lantern making at Yuanming Garden.

H2: Lanterns and film culture merge at Hengdian
Hengdian World Studios has switched on its annual lantern festival as the city counts down to Lunar New Year. This year’s event draws on Chinese fantasy and film culture, using the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing) as its creative blueprint. Twenty-two large-scale themed lantern installations form four immersive zones — Human World, Spirits, Immortals and Future — that stretch across the Studios’ most popular scenic sites.

H3: Performances, parades and daily spectacles
Beginning Feb. 7, the festival rolls out a packed program of street processions and staged events. Over 300 costumed characters parade in traditional-style processions, while organisers say more than 360 performances are scheduled each day. Highlights include intangible cultural heritage fire shows, traditional Chinese magic and acrobatics, offering a blend of living tradition and cinematic spectacle.

H3: Music, circus and hands-on culture
From Lunar New Year’s Day (Feb. 17) through Feb. 23, visitors can enjoy the six-day New Year OST Music Festival, which showcases beloved film and TV soundtracks in live sets. Hengdian International Circus City presents a Clown Carnival where guests can meet acrobats and magicians. At Yuanming Garden’s Dragon Lantern Cultural Festival, daily dragon lantern routines sit alongside interactive lantern-making workshops for families.

H4: New experiences for visitors
The Studios have expanded this year’s offerings to include immersive film worlds and a new photography product. Hengdian Travel Photo Services debuts an “Enter-the-Drama Family Portrait” package, combining film-set backdrops with professional photography for cinematic family keepsakes. These additions aim to deepen visitor engagement and create shareable moments for holiday travelers.

H4: Context and reach
Last year’s festival focused on Song dynasty aesthetics and earned national attention after being featured in the CCTV Lantern Festival Gala alongside major cities. This year’s Shan Hai Jing theme shifts the emphasis toward mythic storytelling and fantasy, reflecting Hengdian’s ties to film production and large-scale set design.

H2: What visitors should know
Expect high footfall across Hengdian during the Spring Festival period. Organisers recommend booking tickets and accommodations in advance. The program runs throughout the holiday, with specific performances and timing available via Hengdian World Studios’ official channels.

Short, colourful and family-friendly, Hengdian’s lantern festival aims to blend traditional craft, live performance and cinematic spectacle to welcome the Year of the Dragon.

Image Referance: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/02/09/3234227/0/en/Lantern-festival-lights-up-Hengdian-in-countdown-to-Lunar-New-Year.html