Beijing staged a lantern show at the Wenyu River Park on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming New Year, the Spring Festival or Chinese Lunar New Year, and the Lantern Festival.
Over a thousand sets of stunning lanterns, blending fashion and technology, have created a dazzling and colorful spectacle, making it a new destination for evening strolls in the city.
This year's show has expanded to eight exhibition sections in a total of 40 hectares.
Drawing inspiration from traditional culture in astronomy, architecture, calligraphy and paintings, as well as mythology, the show creates a fresh and captivating lantern viewing experience.
"I didn't expect it to incorporate so many elements with so many lanterns. The AI-powered lanterns were particularly interesting," said Wang Luhan, a visitor.
"This display is truly impressive. It really brings out the festive spirit," said Xu Jialei, another visitor.
The lantern show will run until March 9, 2025, offering a continuous joyful atmosphere through the New Year, the Spring Festival which falls on January 29 and the Lantern Festival on February 12.
A special event will also be held at the park on the night of December 31 to ring in the New Year.
Beijing launches lantern show to celebrate upcoming festivals
Bilateral relations between China and Seychelles are entering a new phase of expansion, driven by rising trade volumes and growing collaboration in private sector, as well as emerging cooperation in the blue economy and digital innovation.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng is paying a visit to Seychelles and two other African countries of Kenya and South Africa from March 22 to 30.
The year of 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Seychelles.
In 1976, Seychelles became a sovereign nation. China was among the first nations to officially recognize the archipelago country's independence from British rule, marking the beginning of a long friendship that has later transformed the small island state in the Indian Ocean.
"This 50th anniversary will allow us to take stock of what we have achieved in different fields, education, health, infrastructure, economy, culture, environment and other areas," Vincent Meriton, former vice president of Seychelles, said in an interview via video link.
In 2024, at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the relations between the two countries hit a new peak as the ties were officially elevated to a strategic partnership.
Available data showed that bilateral trade between the two countries has maintained a strong momentum, reaching 84 million U.S. dollars in 2024. China mainly exports high-tech products such as smart phones, high-end camera systems, and mechanical and electric products, among others. Seychelles primarily exports seafood.
The future development of the bilateral ties is now turning offshore as both nations are looking toward blue economy. They are working together on sustainable fisheries and protection for the very ocean that feeds Seychelles.
Chinese vice president's visit to Seychelles to further enhance bilateral ties
