The Spring Festival holiday has come to an end, but the festive atmosphere continues because the grand finale of the celebrations – the Lantern Festival – has yet to arrive!
The Lantern Festival, also known as Shangyuan Festival, is over 2,000 years old. The night of the Lantern Festival is marked by a bright full moon, family reunions, and lively celebrations. After enjoying delicious tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), people step outside to admire colorful lantern displays and guess lantern riddles. With the first full moon of the lunar calendar at night, the Lantern Festival symbolizes unity and happiness.
In recent years, Shanghai has embraced a diverse range of cultural and tourism activities for the Lantern Festival, hosting dazzling lantern fairs across the city. This year is no exception.
CNS has listed several must-visit lantern fairs in Shanghai for this year's celebrations. Let's embrace the Year of the Snake with some of the most stunning light shows.
Yuyuan Lantern Fair
2025豫园民俗艺术灯会
This year's theme, "Mountain and Sea: A Jungle Story," celebrates the 30th edition of the fair. It offers a fusion of traditional Chinese culture and modern artistic expression. Centered on the zodiac, this year's fair also incorporates elements of forests, insects, butterflies, flowers, as well as spirits and mythical creatures, to create a scene of harmonious coexistence.
The "Auspicious Serpent Welcomes the New Year" lantern display at the central plaza is the highlight, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune for the New Year. Plus, the lantern fair features a special "Beyond Lanterns – 30 Years of the Yuyuan Lantern Fair and Chinese Lantern Art" exhibition, showcasing 13 precious ancient lantern artifacts from the Jinshan Museum.
Click here to learn more
If you go
Date: Through Feb 12
Venue: Yuyuan Garden Mall 豫园商城
Address: 265 Fangbang Rd M. 方浜中路265号
Admission:
Regular days (Mon-Thurs, Feb 7):
Adult: 50 yuan (US$6.8); Child: 30 yuan
Viewing time: 4pm-10pm
Peak days (Fri-Sun, Feb 12):
Adult: 80 yuan; Child: 50 yuan
Viewing time: 2pm-10pm
"She Hu Qi Hu" Haipai Spring Festival Lantern Fair "蛇乎其神"海派新春元宵灯会
The Haipai Spring Festival Lantern Fair combines the myths of ancient Chinese and Western civilizations. It meticulously crafts five large-scale light art installations that integrate the joy of the festival, artistic quality, and sustainable concepts. Focusing on three main directions – "Experience·All-day," "Immersion·Performance Collection," and "Crossover·Super Temporal Space," the fair has over 200 events.
Set against the backdrop of longtang (old Shanghai-style alleys), it offers residents and visitors a festive experience that blends traditional New Year rituals with a fusion of Eastern and Western trends, creating a new "Shanghai-style Spring Festival" experience.
If you go
Venue: The INLET 今潮8弄
Address: Intersection of Sichuan Rd N. and Wujin Rd 四川北路武进路口
Admission: Free
"Siwu Shadow·Jiangnan Year" Lantern Fair "巳物影·江南年"灯会
For the Year of the Snake, Panlong Tiandi has created a lantern in the shape if a giant, illuminated water serpent, "Si Wu," in the Jiangnan waterways. The serpent winds its way through the thousand-year-old ancient bridges of Panlong Ancient Town. The historic alleys and bridges are adorned with the "Si Wu" lanterns. The lantern-lit streets also come alive with the lively dance of dragon lanterns and the warm glow of bonfires.
If you go
Date: Through Feb
Venue: Panlong Tiandi 蟠龙天地
Address: No. 8, Lane 123, Panding Road 蟠鼎路123弄8号
Admission: Free
2025 Xinzhuang Lantern Fair 2025莘庄灯会
During the 2025 Spring Festival, the Xinzhuang Lantern Festival features the zodiac snake as its central theme. The event integrates elements of traditional Chinese culture, inviting residents to celebrate the Lantern Festival and experience the unique charm of Xinzhuang. The lantern displays, inspired by the zodiac snake, create a rich festive atmosphere while promoting the deep integration of culture, business, and tourism.
If you go
Date: Through Feb 12
Time: 6pm-9pm
Venue:
Xincheng Central Park 莘城中央公园
Skymall 仲盛世界商城
Chunshen Cultural Square 闵春申文化广场
CapitaLand Minhang Plaza 凯德闵行商业中心
The main section of Humin Road 沪闵路主干道
Address:
180 Mincheng Road 闵城路180号
5001 Dushi Road 都市路5001号
85 Mingdu Road 名都路85号
6088 Humin Road 沪闵路6088号
From Guangtong Road to Xinjian Road E. 广通路至莘建东路
Admission: Free
Nanxiang Ancient Town Lantern Fair 南翔古镇灯彩荟
Nanxiang Ancient Town has set up a lively and adorable snake-shaped lantern display near the Twin Pagodas featuring elements of Nanxiang xiaolongbao in its design. The display symbolizes a steaming-hot, prosperous year ahead.
At the entrance of Jiefang Street, the dragon gate-shaped lantern installation shines like a waterfall of starlight, while colorful koi fish lanterns of various shapes sway gracefully in the air, creating a vibrant scene of koi fish playfully chasing one another.
If you go
Date: Through Feb 16
Lighting time: 5:30pm-10pm
Venue: Nanxiang Ancient Town 南翔古镇
Address: 206 Jiefang Street 解放街206号
Admission: Free
Luodian Warm Spring Lantern Festival 2025 2025 罗店暖春灯会
The Luodian Warm Spring Lantern Fair 2025 officially lit up on January 20. When the Year of the Snake meets a Jiangnan ancient town, witness the serpent's transformation amidst the poetic charm of Jiangnan and experience unparalleled romance. Come to the "golden Luodian" for a festive and enchanting New Year celebration!
If you go
Date: Through Feb 12
Lighting time: 5pm-10pm
Venue: Meilan West Lake Park 美兰西湖公园
Address: 750 Meilanhu Road 美兰湖路750号
Admission: Free
Qingxi Old Street New Year Lantern Fair 青溪老街迎新灯会
Qingxi Old Street is adorned with over 700 lanterns and rattan balls, filling the area with a dazzling, festive atmosphere to welcome the Spring Festival. At the same time, five special Chinese New Year-themed installations have been set up at locations such as People's Road Square, the mirror pool, the screen wall, Wanghailou Tower, and the drying rack area, adding extra fun for visitors as they enjoy the lantern displays.
If you go
Date: Through Feb 14
Venue: Qingxi Old Street, Qingcun Town, Fengxian District 奉贤区青村镇清溪老街
Address: 2765 Nanfeng Highway 南奉公路2765号
Admission: Free
Enjoy the lanterns at Fengjing Ancient Town 枫泾古镇赏年灯
During the day, the Fengjing Ancient Town, with its rich history, boasts beautiful and charming scenery. As night falls, various lights illuminate the area, transforming the quiet town into a vibrant and lively place. Waves of light have been arranged along the river, and in the square, there's a "Flower-adorned Serpent" – it looks even more stunning at night. The New Year lantern installations will remain until the Lantern Festival, so don't miss the chance to experience this spectacular display!
If you go
Date: Through Feb 12 (Lantern Festival)
Venue: Fengjing Ancient Town 枫泾古镇
Address: No. 28, Lane 8588, Tingfeng Highway 亭枫公路8588弄28号
Admission: Free
