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The Mid-Autumn Festival lantern display at Victoria Park has long been a go-to holiday tradition for Hongkongers. This year, it’s upping its game by taking visitors on a luminous tour around the world with the inaugural International Lantern Spectacular. Built on the theme of ‘Reunion’, the display brings together lanterns from 20 countries and regions, traditional Qinhuai lanterns from Nanjing, and locally handcrafted lanterns.
Stepping onto the World Lantern Boulevard, visitors will be surrounded by over 3,000 lanterns from across the globe. Along the path, you’ll spot silk lanterns from South Korea, Brazilian lanterns with vibrant patchwork designs, Polish lanterns made using traditional folk paper-cutting techniques, and many more.
A team of Qinhuai lantern makers from Nanjing has also been invited to build four giant lantern installations for the occasion. Known for its vivid colours and intricate designs, Nanjing’s Qinhuai lantern craftsmanship dates back more than 1,700 years and is inscribed on China’s National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Taking centre stage is ‘Shadowlight’, an eight-metre-tall installation inspired by Hong Kong’s banyan trees. Located near the main entrance, visitors are invited to walk beneath its warm, colourful glow and soak up the festive feels. The other three Qinhuai lanterns are dotted around the park, including the ‘Lotus Fish’, which features rows of giant lotus leaves; the ‘Dragon Gate’, which depicts a pair of carp leaping from the water; and ‘Moonlit Lotus’, a seven-metre-tall moon lantern resting on a lotus pond.
Hong Kong’s own lantern-making heritage is also highlighted at the Hong Kong Lantern Galleria, where more than 400 classic handcrafted lanterns in traditional designs recreate the lively atmosphere of the famous ‘Lantern Street’ at Yuen Long’s Tai Kiu Market.
Those dropping by between September 17 and 20 can also sample various regional treats from charity stalls set up with Po Leung Kuk – ranging from savoury Yunnan ham mooncakes to Shanghai-style Suzhou mooncakes and taro paste Chiuchow mooncakes – with all proceeds going directly to charity.
The lights go on every evening from September 17 to 27 (6.30pm to 11pm), with hours extending to 12am on September 25 to mark the festival night itself. Admission is free, so be prepared for the crowds as you get closer to the holiday! Visit discoverhongkong.com for more info.
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