(13 Feb 2025)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beijing, China – 13 February 2025
1. Various of big lanterns in the square
2. Various of lantern shaped like child character
3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Qinghua, Beijing resident: ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT AND IS OVERLAID BY SHOT 4++
“When I was little, we also watched lanterns on the 15th day of the first lunar month, with other activities like guessing lantern riddles, but the lanterns of that time were all paper pasted and not as beautiful as the lanterns here.”
4. Wide of large lantern with image of lady wearing sunglasses
5. Close of eyes of the lantern blinking
6. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Dongna Luyang, student living in Beijing: ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT++
“The parts with colors of technology, figures wearing AR glasses, I think they kind of fit the modern age.”
7. Various lantern shaped like man in green Chinese traditional costume
8. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Xiao Tian (left) and Xin Yu (right), students from Hebei Province:
SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT AND IS OVERLAID BY SHOT 9-10++
Xiao Tian: "We are close friends, but we live far from each other in different cities and it is not easy for us to get together."
Xin Yu: "Today we get together, and since it is the lantern festival, we decided to put on the special festive costumes and celebrate together.”
9. People in costumes of Chinese god of money
10. Two girls in Chinese traditional costumes walking past
11. Various of lanterns and crowds
12. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Qiu Lifang, Beijing resident: ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT AND IS OVERLAID BY SHOT 13++
“This is a tradition of China that people nowadays are not much committed to, but it should be carried on. The lantern festival is for people to enjoy lanterns.”
13. Wide tilt-down of lanterns of Chinese architecture, people walking
14. Mid of people walking under lanterns
STORYLINE:
After Chinese New Year, the displays of the vibrant lanterns across the city keep the festive vibes going.
The largest show, located at the Beijing Garden Expo Park in the city’s suburbs, features more than 10,000 groups of light installations of various sizes and themes.
And the festival truly comes alive at night.
Crowds gather to marvel at the towering sculptures glowing in the dark.
“When I was little, we also watched lanterns on the 15th day of the first lunar month, with other activities like guessing lantern riddles, but the lanterns of that time were all paper pasted and not as beautiful as the lanterns here,” says Wang Qinghua, Beijing resident.
There are traditional elements such as architectural landmarks, Gods of fortune, dragons, to innovations like cyberpunk-style Peking opera headdresses and Avatar-style huge plants.
The installations, some of which are as tall as 18 meters and span for over 100 meters, offer a feast of visuals.
The festival is a moment for friends Xiao Tian and Xin Yu to reunite.
"We are close friends, but we live far from each other in different cities and it is not easy for us to get together," says Tian.
"Today we get together, and since it is the lantern festival, we decided to put on the special festive costumes and celebrate together,” adds Yu.
Attending lantern fairs during festivals is a time-honored tradition in Chinese culture.
The 15th day of the first lunar month sees the first full moon of the year, and also marks spring returning.
As Chinese New Year celebrations continue, people across the country light up colorful lanterns to pray for good luck and happiness in the new year.
AP video shot by: Wayne Zhang
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