Lantern display paired with traditional chinese costume records the ever largest scale

Thousands turned up in West Kowloon on Wednesday night to see a giant outdoor lantern exhibition as part of a series of events across Hong Kong to celebrate National Day.

A 12.8-metre Hong Kong fairy lantern is the largest ever to be displayed in Hong Kong and is based on the character Zixian Fairy from a Hong Kong film. It is one of four in the Art Park designed to look like fictional fairies dressed in traditional Chinese clothing.

The lanterns are made in Zigong style, a national heritage from Sichuan province known for its complexity, craftsmanship and large scale.

The lantern features a fairy in traditional Chinese attire as its central motif, complemented by bouquets of Bauhinia and peonies. This symbolises national prosperity and the flourishing of wealth, embodying heartfelt wishes for both the motherland and Hong Kong.

Many residents were impressed by the scale and craftsmanship.

“The lanterns show Chinese traditional culture in an innovative way. It gives greater value to costumes when they are presented together with intangible heritage,” said Cheng Heng-tai, 35, who travelled from Macau after knowing the event through social media.

“The current lantern designs are just large figures. I would like to see more different styles, with a greater artistic feel,” said Pauline Mak, 66, a local resident.

She added that she found the blinking lantern figures quite frightening in the beginning. “But later, when all the lights along the road were turned on, I got used to it,” she said.

“I hope the carnival can include booths that sell local street foods, such as fishball and siu mai, instead of only selling creative handmade crafts. Because we spend a long time here, having snacks available helps pass the time pleasantly,” said Elsa Chow, 52.

“Many children also come to this event, so stalls that include games could increase engagement and attract more children,” she added.

The event received positive feedback from some visitors for its effort on cultural heritage, as well as the blend of Eastern-Western and traditional-modern cultures.

“Traditional Chinese attire is merely a medium for Chinese culture,” said Sun Jingguo, a visitor to the event who works for the state-owned China Travel Service tourism company.

“It is imperative for China to export our national culture and spirit, fostering greater pride among both our citizens and overseas Chinese,” Sun added.

“We hope this event will bring outstanding Chinese traditional culture to Hong Kong and allow cultural creativity to become a key force in driving the city’s development,” said Xu Zhengzhong, President of Bauhinia Culture Holdings Limited, one of the event organisers, during the opening ceremony of the event.

The four-day carnival ends on Thursday.