As the Spring Festival, which falls on January 29 this year, draws near, demand for festive decorations, particularly lanterns, is reaching a peak in China.
In Xiuning County of east China's Anhui Province, traditional handcrafted lanterns are seeing a significant surge in sales.
At a lantern factory, workers are busy making a variety of red lanterns, known for their bright colors and beautiful designs. Recently, these traditional lanterns have experienced a boom in sales, with local businesses reporting a sharp increase in orders and a doubling of their sales volume.
"Now we're in the peak season of lantern production. We have increased the production lines from six to eight. We are working overtime every day, producing more than 4,000 lanterns per day. In one month, the number is expected to reach hundreds of thousands, more than double the usual amount," said Liu Penghui, general manager of a light decoration company in Huangshan City.
In addition to traditional lanterns, innovative designs have also gained in popularity.
Among the most sought-after are LED lanterns, which create dynamic light effects and have a three-dimensional feel.
These modern lanterns are especially favored by younger consumers, prompting many local businesses to expand their production capacity to meet the growing market demand. Meanwhile, in Nanchang City of east China's Jiangxi Province, a renowned dragon lantern production base is also witnessing a surge in both domestic and international orders.
With over 50 workers involved on the production line, the factory is operating at full capacity.
More than 100 finished dragon lanterns are produced daily on average.
The factory has received over 3,500 orders in the month prior to the Spring Festival, accounting for more than 30 percent of the annual total.
"Many orders were placed at the end of the year, and we now are working overtime to produce them," said Shi Kebin, a dragon lantern craftsman.
While preserving traditional techniques, local manufacturers have continuously innovated, breathing new life into this ancient craft.
"We updated the old version at the end of 2024. Based on the original structure, we use engineering plastics to replace the bamboo. It is lighter. Besides, there is no danger of being infested or smelling musty," said Shi.
Festive lantern sales soar as Spring Festival nears
Grassroots officials and students who teamed up with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the voluntary tree planting activity in Beijing on Thursday morning said afterwards they would commit more energy to protecting their country's natural heritage and greening efforts.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was accompanied by other Party and state leaders as they joined residents and local officials on the bank of the Yongding River in Beijing’s Fengtai District to plant saplings.
Xi waved to the crowd as he arrived at the site before picking up a shovel to help plant saplings of several different types of tree.
Xi took time to ask students from local schools about their studies, life and participation in labor and sports.
"We came here today to participate in this tree planting activity. What surprised us was that President Xi also took part. He worked alongside us, digging and building up the soil around the saplings. He has always been concerned about our lives and studies, and he encouraged us to work and study hard," said Lyu Shuochen, a student from the Fifth Primary School in Fengtai District.
"President Xi is very knowledgeable and understanding. He also encouraged us plant more trees to improve the air quality and the environment," said Gu Weichen, another student from the school.
During the event, Xi also talked with local grassroots officials, discussing the importance of preserving the nation's natural heritage.
"Every year, [the general secretary] takes part in the tree planting activity in the capital. He shovels the soil and waters the trees, which are truly touching. As environmental builders, we are determined to work together to make areas along the Yongding River greener and make the water clearer, so that local people can safely enjoy the riverside and truly understand the significance of ecological preservation," said Ding Hongwei, deputy director of the Fengtai District Yongding River Management Office.
"For us, participating in the tree planting activity with the general secretary is a vivid practical lesson in grassroots governance. Today, the general secretary also stressed that [environmental efforts should focus on] improving quality, boosting industry and benefiting the people. For us as community workers, it means we must deeply engage in the grassroots affairs. We need to strive for growth and do practical things to provide support for the residents and the people around us," said Qian Cheng, Party secretary of Tianlun Jincheng community in Beijing's Fengtai District.
"In addition to building the capital into a garden city, we also integrate the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature into our daily life and work. We hope to create a better environment for everyone," said Lin Qiaoling, a Party committee member in Caoqiao Village, Yuquanying Subdistrict in Fengtai District.
Encouraged by Xi, the environmental champions at the site pledged to actively engage in public welfare activities, joining forces to contribute to the building of a Beautiful China and making the country even greener.
"President Xi told us while we were watering the saplings that watering the trees is like nurturing us children. I will follow what President Xi said. I want to become a teacher to educate and nurture others, and sow the seeds for them to grow their talents," said Wang Nanbixuan, another student from the school.
"As a primary school student in the capital, I am committed to planting more trees, working harder, and adding more green spaces to make our capital even more beautiful," said Chang Yuyang, another student from the school.
"With the personal involvement and leadership of the general secretary, the greening efforts in the capital will reach a new level, and citizens will be able to more directly enjoy the results of ecological civilization development," said Ding.
"As the general secretary said, we will continue working, one generation after another, to improve the greening efforts for the people, and contribute our own strength to ecological preservation in the capital and the whole country," said Lin.
Planting trees with President Xi inspires new generation of environmental champions
