The annual Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival has been brightening up in Paris and Shanghai to celebrate the year of the Dragon. For the first time, the Yuyuan lanterns are also on display overseas, illuminating the Jardin d'Acclimatation in Paris as part of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France and also marks the Sino-French Culture and Tourism in 2024. It has attracted wide French media attention.

As Chinese Lunar New Year is drawing near, Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden has again donned a festive look, dressed in hundreds of delicate, illuminated lanterns. Lanterns with the designs inspired by dragons, and mythical creatures from the “Classic of Mountains and Seas” have been lit up to immerse visitors with Eastern aesthetics and foster global cultural exchanges. In addition to lanterns, the festival hosts 350 performances, including martial arts and traditional dances.

The Paris festival blends traditional Chinese techniques with modern artistry, featuring three main zones: Eastern Charm, Spirit of Mountains and Seas and Fireworks Market. The space is adorned with over 60 large lantern sets and 2,000 traditional lanterns, all shipped from China. Lu Shaye, China's ambassador to France, said the event marked the beginning of the 2024 China-France high-quality cultural exchange activities.

The festive event will run from late January to February 25. China is trailing 15-day visa free travel for ordinary passport holders from France to boost people to people exchanges.