Yangshuo celebrates Lantern Festival with global visitors

Yangshuo in Guangxi brought together Chinese and overseas visitors for a Lantern Festival fair featuring bilingual riddles, dragon dances and free tangyuan on March 3.

Visitors are guessing lantern riddles. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/ guilin]

Held under the theme "Landscapes Reflect the World · Lantern Festival Unites Us", the 2026 celebration took place along Binjiang Road and at the Sun Yat-sen Former Residence Square, turning the riverside town into a nighttime stage of lanterns and folk traditions.

Dragon and lion procession draws huge crowds along Yangshuo's West Street. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/guilin]

A traditional eye-dotting ceremony for dragon and lion dances at Longtoushan Pier marked the start of the evening. Students and local performers later paraded down West Street with tourists from home and abroad, as illuminated dragons wove through ancient alleys.

A bilingual lantern riddle fair became a highlight. Blending Yangshuo's scenery with themes of reunion and global culture, the riddles were displayed in both Chinese and English.

Correct answers earned local souvenirs, encouraging cultural exchange through play. "It's my first time seeing such a festival in China. It's stunning," said a tourist from the Netherlands.

Crowds cheer as a dragon and lion parade winds through Yangshuo's West Street. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/guilin]

More than 10,000 bowls of tangyuan were handed for free, including a kumquat flavor inspired by the county's specialty fruit.

Nearby, a countryside market brought together local farm produce, tea, and handicrafts, while performers of traditional Caidao opera took to the stage and invited audience participation, adding an interactive element to the festivities.

By blending folk customs with international involvement, Yangshuo used a traditional festival to present itself as an open tourism destination rooted in heritage.