Shantou is poised to launch the "2024 Shantou International Lantern Show" in the port-opening area of Shantou Small Park from February 24th to March 15th, igniting a vibrant atmosphere of joy, harmony, and celebration.

During the Lantern Festival night, the streets surrounding the Small Park will come alive with a folk parade brimming with local flavor. Residents and tourists will be invited to immerse themselves in the interactive park experience, embracing the rich historical heritage and unique folk culture of this centuries-old commercial port.

The Lantern Festival marks the first significant traditional celebration following the Chinese New Year. On this auspicious day, a lot of activities including riddle guessing, lantern appreciation, and festive celebrations are organized, symbolizing people's aspirations for a year filled with prosperity and peace. In Chaoshan, lanterns display a stunning variety of intricate designs. Crafted with a fusion of traditional techniques, they harmoniously incorporate elements from Chaoshan's distinctive cultural arts, such as Chaozhou opera, embroidery, and clay sculpture. With their rich cultural connotations and distinct local characteristics, these lanterns stand as invaluable treasures of traditional folk art in Guangdong Province. Additionally, they evoke poignant memories of the Lantern Festival, carrying a deep sense of nostalgia for Chaoshan people both at home and abroad.

The evening of February 24th (the 15th day of the Chinese New Year) will see an illumination ceremony at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Pavilion in the Small Park. Overseas guests, Chaoshan residents, and representatives from multiple sectors in Chaoshan will be invited to partake in this celebration event, enjoying the enchanting world of lanterns and cherishing moments of reunion. Following the illumination ceremony, an array of interactive activities will be awaiting attendees, including a lantern market, an ancient-style parade, experiences showcasing intangible cultural heritage, lantern riddle contests, dragon dance performances, and Yingge dance performances. These activities will offer citizens and tourists a distinctive glimpse into Chaoshan's rich cultural heritage, showing Shantou's folk traditions, unique intangible cultural heritage, and the charm of the hometown of overseas Chinese.

Lantern appreciation is the highlight of this event, with a variety of dragon-themed lanterns garnering significant attention and anticipation. Five colorful dragon pillars have been set up at street corners around the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Pavilion. In front of the Nansheng Department Store, a themed lantern wall for this show has been installed. To highlight the characteristics of the hometown of overseas Chinese, lanterns representing iconic buildings and special products from countries where overseas Chinese in Chaoshan are mainly concentrated, such as the Grand Palace in Thailand, the Merlion Park in Singapore, the Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia, and the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates, will be designed to create a themed exotic street with unique characteristics.

Source:Yangcheng Evening News

彩灯与骑楼相辉映！汕头国际元宵灯会即将开启

农历正月十五至二月初二（即2月24日至3月15日）期间，汕头将在小公园开埠区举办“2024汕头小公园国际元宵灯会”，营造欢乐、祥和、喜庆的节日氛围。

其中，元宵节当晚，“潮”味十足的民俗巡游队伍也将亮相小公园街区，让市民游客通过交互式的游园体验，沉浸式感受百载商埠浓厚的历史底蕴和独特的民俗文化。

元宵是春节后的第一个重要传统节日，猜灯谜、赏花灯、闹元宵等活动承载着人们祈求新的一年风调雨顺、国泰民安的美好愿望。在潮汕地区，花灯集彩扎、彩绘、剪刻于一身，融合潮剧、潮绣、泥塑等潮汕独特文化艺术元素，造型精巧多样，文化内涵丰富，乡土特色浓郁，是广东省传统民间艺术宝库的一大瑰宝，也承载着海内外潮人对元宵佳节的浓浓乡愁回忆。

2月24日（即正月十五）晚，2024汕头小公园国际元宵灯会活动将在小公园中山纪念亭举行亮灯仪式，邀请海外嘉宾、潮籍乡亲、各界市民代表参加，共赏奇幻浪漫的灯火世界、共赴团圆。亮灯仪式后，灯会集市、古风巡游、非遗体验、元宵灯谜、舞龙、英歌展演等沉浸式互动环节，将为市民游客呈现一场独特的潮汕传统文化盛宴，全方位展示汕头民俗文化、特色非遗、侨乡风采。

赏花灯是此次活动“重头戏”，各式各样的龙灯备受关注和期待。中山纪念亭周边街口，布设五座五彩盘龙柱。南生百货大楼前，设置本次元宵灯会主题灯墙。为突出侨乡特色，元宵灯会将选取泰国大皇宫、新加坡鱼尾狮、柬埔寨吴哥窟、马来西亚双子塔、阿联酋哈利法塔等潮汕华侨主要聚居地国家的标志性建筑和特色物产，设计主题特色花灯，打造特色异国风情街。

文丨记者 赵映光 通讯员 汕宣
图丨袁笙
翻译丨麦芯羽