Beijing staged a lantern show at the Wenyu River Park on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming New Year, the Spring Festival or Chinese Lunar New Year, and the Lantern Festival.
Over a thousand sets of stunning lanterns, blending fashion and technology, have created a dazzling and colorful spectacle, making it a new destination for evening strolls in the city.
This year's show has expanded to eight exhibition sections in a total of 40 hectares.
Drawing inspiration from traditional culture in astronomy, architecture, calligraphy and paintings, as well as mythology, the show creates a fresh and captivating lantern viewing experience.
"I didn't expect it to incorporate so many elements with so many lanterns. The AI-powered lanterns were particularly interesting," said Wang Luhan, a visitor.
"This display is truly impressive. It really brings out the festive spirit," said Xu Jialei, another visitor.
The lantern show will run until March 9, 2025, offering a continuous joyful atmosphere through the New Year, the Spring Festival which falls on January 29 and the Lantern Festival on February 12.
A special event will also be held at the park on the night of December 31 to ring in the New Year.
Beijing launches lantern show to celebrate upcoming festivals
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Brasilia on Wednesday, expressing the willingness to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation.
Lula said that Brazil and China have built strong mutual trust and deepened cooperation across various fields, showing that Brazil's steadfast friendship with China is the right choice and a model for South-South cooperation.
He said that he looks forward to maintaining close high-level exchanges with China, further strengthening economic and trade ties, and expanding the mutually beneficial cooperation in finance, energy and other fields.
China's firm and forceful countermeasures against the "reciprocal tariffs" is admirable, said the Brazilian president, noting that China's just actions have received widespread support while certain country's irresponsible and unilateral practices warrant joint resistance.
Brazil is willing to work with China to advocate free trade, defend international rules, and counter any power overriding international justice, the president added.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with Brazil to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and push for more outcomes in building a China-Brazil community with a shared future.
China will strengthen its cooperation with BRICS and Global South countries, adhere to multilateralism and safeguard international rules, he said.
On the same day, Wang attended the 15th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Brasilia.
Brazilian president meets Chinese FM on closer ties, cooperation
