Experience traditional ways to celebrate Spring Festival in Jinan
Spring Festival, the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Feb 5 this year. A series of activities will be held in Jinan, the capital of East China’s Shandong province, to celebrate the upcoming festival, the most important festival for visitors across the world.
1. Baotu Spring Lantern Festival
The Baotu Spring Lantern Festival will be launched at Baotu Spring Garden on the first day of the Chinese lunar year, offering visitors a chance to enjoy some festive entertainment.
Since 1956, Jinan has held a spectacular lantern show 39 times. Baotu Spring Lantern Festival has developed into the largest and oldest lantern show in Shandong province.
This year’s show will offer more than 40 sets of lanterns with different themes. The largest lantern set consists of four giant yellow elephants, 12 meters high and 30 meters wide. The elephant and the column will rotate simultaneously, providing a visual spectacle for visitors. The lantern show will last Feb 24.
The 40th Baotu Spring Lantern Festival has get ready for Chinese Lunar New Year. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Address: No 1 Baotuquan South Road, Lixia district, Jinan, Shandong province.
Tel: +86-531-86920680
Ticket price: 40 yuan for adults; 20 yuan for full-time students with valid certificate (except graduate students).
2. Jinan Fantawild Oriental Heritage Lantern Show
Jinan Fantawild Oriental Heritage is to hold its fifth lantern show from Feb 5 to 19, illuminating the cold nights with warm, colorful lights during the festive season.
The shining groups of lanterns on display, handmade by craftsmen from Zigong city – “the hometown of lantern art” – are different from traditional Chinese lanterns as the craftsmen have made breakthroughs by combining light with sound to provide better displays.
In keeping with Chinese traditions and in celebration of the upcoming Chinese New Year, there will also be activities, including a food carnival and folk performances, prepared for guests in daytime at the site.
A set of animal-themed red lanterns at the lantern show at the Jinan Fantawild Oriental Heritage. [Photo/fangte.com]
Address: No 277 Jiqi Road, Huaiyin district, Jinan, Shandong province
Opening hours: 9:00-18:00 (16:00-21:30 for an evening ticket)
3. Daming Lake Park Temple Fair
A temple fair will take place at Daming Lake Park on Feb 5, the first day of the Chinese lunar year to celebrate the grand festival and offer local residents a chance to enjoy some festive entertainment.
This year’s temple fair will offer more than 90 traditional folk performances, including walking on stilts, lion and dragon dances, and puppet shows. Taking “the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up” as its theme, the temple fair will also have exhibitions displaying old pictures and objects to show people the earth-shaking changes in Jinan over the past 40 years. It will last to Feb 10.
Visitors watch the Chinese shadow puppetry performance at the 21st Spring Festival culture-themed temple fair at Jinan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Address: No 271 Daminghu Road, Lixia district, Jinan, Shandong province.
Ticket price: free
4. Temple fair at Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area
Qianfo Mountain Scenic Area is to hold a series of activities, such as ceremonies to pray for good fortune and interactive games, to add more enjoyment to the festival. A temple fair, including sales of folk products and featured food, and traditional opera performances, will also take place.
Performances at Qianfo Mountain [Photo/WeChat account: jnscsyllhj]
Address: No 18 Jingshiyi Road, Lixia district, Jinan, Shandong province
Date: Feb 5-10
Opening hours: 6:30-19:00
Ticket price: 30 yuan for adults; 15 yuan for full-time students with valid certificate (except graduate students);
