Lantern Festival in China: What Happens on the First Full Moon of the Lunar Year?

Imagine walking through a historic Chinese street filled with glowing lanterns of different shapes and colors. Some look like flowers, animals or traditional buildings, while others display riddles for visitors to solve. This is the atmosphere of the Lantern Festival, a celebration marking the end of the traditional Chinese New Year period.

Why Is the Lantern Festival Celebrated?

The Lantern Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar, when the first full moon of the lunar year appears. It is traditionally associated with reunion, hope and the arrival of spring.

The Tradition of Eating Tangyuan

One of the festival's most popular foods is tangyuan, small round rice balls usually served in a warm sweet soup. Their round shape symbolizes family unity and togetherness. Fillings may include black sesame, peanut or red bean paste.

Lantern Displays and Traditional Riddles

Lantern displays are the festival's most recognizable attraction. In some places, visitors can also take part in lantern riddles, a traditional activity in which short clues are written on lanterns and participants try to solve them.

Where Can You Experience the Festival?

Major cities such as Nanjing, Xi'an and Beijing often organize public lantern events, although the style and scale vary by year. Historic streets and cultural parks can be particularly atmospheric after dark.

If your trip coincides with the Lantern Festival, set aside an evening to enjoy the lights, taste tangyuan and experience one of China's most charming traditional celebrations.