The Lantern Festival, marked on the fifteenth day of Zheng Yue, or the first lunar month, is traditionally considered the final day of the Spring Festival. Also, the Lantern Festival is one of the quite romantic ones among traditional Chinese festivals. On this day, the streets and alleys are decorated with lights, people light up thousands of lanterns, go out with friends and relatives to enjoy lanterns, stroll around the flower markets, set off fireworks, sing and dance to celebrate the Lantern Festival.

In addition, many traditional folk performances are incorporated into the Lantern Festival such as dragon lantern dance, a lion dance, walking on stilts, land boat dance, Yangge dance and Taiping drums. The festival was listed in the second batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage in June 2008.

In old times, people were restricted by a strict night curfew, and the festival was almost their only chance to walk out of their home and have great fun after sunset. Even though the flavors of the traditional holidays have been much diluted in the modern world, the Chinese people never give up the essential traditions to enjoy one last fling of the Spring Festival.

Preparation for lantern fairs usually begins days before the Lantern Festival across China, since displaying lanterns is one of the most important rituals. Nowadays, lanterns are made in a variety of colors and forms, with the auspicious Chinese elements such as zodiac signs, lotus, dragons and phoenix favored. During the evening, with all the bulbs turned on, the lantern fairs look as bright as the daytime.

So, where are the best locations to view the lantern fairs in Xi'an?

The Xi'an City Wall

                      

    Schedule of special shows at Great Tang All Day Mall on Feb 15th

 Performance period：12:00 - 23:00  

Source from Great Tang All Day Mall

Yisu Theatre Cultural District

Daming Palace National Heritage Park

Catch the last fling of the Lantern Festival with your family, friends, and lovers, and send out your best wishes through these splendid lanterns~