So it was a Friday night and we decided to go for a little walk in the neighbourhood. It was finally starting to get warmer here in Tianjin so we were excited to wear just our coats.
We didn’t expect to find the Ancient Culture Street nearby; adorned in colourful lanterns and lights. It was Chinese Lantern Festival – also known as the Spring Festival! I do love China!
What?
The Chinese Lantern Festival is an annual festival in China and Hong Kong, celebrated on the 15th of the first month of the Lunar Calendar. This year (2018) it landed on March 2nd – it marks the final day of the Chinese New Year celebrate (YES, these celebrations go on far too long!).
Since as early as the Western Han Dynasty, the festival was celebrated. It has come a long way from its origins of simple lanterns lit in the streets.
What to expect
Of course, this depends on where you visit. We visited a local tourist area called the Ancient Culture Street here in Tianjin and it was full of street food vendors, lanterns and light decorations galore. There was another celebration slightly further out of town that included large light displays.
Our experience
One of things I love about living in China is discovering random events like this just by stepping out of the apartment.
So that was our time at the Chinese Lantern Festival! If you liked our video – do head over to CTG TV and hit subscribe!
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Now the Chinese Lantern Festival is something I’ve always wanted to do. It looks like you guys had an amazing time. All those beautiful lights to help greet spring and give it a big welcome. And at least the weather was warming up for you 🙂
So incredibly beautiful! One thing I LOVE about Asia is the unique, colorful festivals. A few years ago I was lucky to catch a Chinese lantern festival in an ethnically Chinese part of Thailand and it was certainly an experience I’ll never forget! Loved the video, great post 🙂