On January 30th, the 2026 Guangzhou Spring Lantern Festival, themed "Cantonese Rhythm Millennia · One Heart Across the Four Seas," officially opened in grand fashion. This year's festival debuts an innovative "one axis, three rings, and multiple nodes" layout that organically weaves Guangzhou's historical legacy with the cultural essence of the Maritime Silk Road. For the first time, Yuexiu Park serves as the main venue, linked with seven major parks across the city to create an expansive city-wide celebration of light and shadow.

Inside Yuexiu Park, 85 sets of large lantern installations and tens of thousands of decorative lights are spreading out layer upon layer, shining in mutual splendor. The festival deeply integrates a range of themes, including Guangzhou's poetic heritage, China-chic (guochao) animation, and Tang-style maritime market, to offer a dazzling feast of light and shadow that authentically represents Guangzhou's Lingnan culture, openness, and vitality.

Along the Beixiu Lake, the sailing ship Götheborg of Sweden is quietly moored. With live NPC actors interacting on site, it vividly recreates the bustling trade scenes of the ancient Shibosi (maritime trade office). Lantern installations inspired by the historic "Thirteen Hongs" illuminate streetscapes, evoking the prosperity captured in the saying "a mountain of gold and a sea of pearls; the Emperor's southern treasury." Lanterns emblazoned with the letters "APEC" cleverly echo the festival's theme of "One Heart Across the Four Seas," symbolizing Guangzhou's connections with the world and its spirit of cultural inclusiveness.

Mr. Chen, a local visitor watching the lights with his child, said that this isn't just beautiful to look at, it's like attending a vivid history lesson. He added that his child was asking questions all the way through, from the awakening lion at the entrance to the sailing ship by the water. What's crucial is that every lantern installation has a story behind it, which makes this "lesson" profound and engaging.

Beyond its rich historical narrative, the "Millennia-old Guangzhou Tourist Route" also embraces contemporary energy and technological innovation. The world-premiere "Yueyun Yingcai" 360° immersive dome theater breaks traditional boundaries between performers and audiences, while the "China-chic Dimension · Imagination Lighthouse" lantern installation transforms the protagonist Han Li's heroic journey in the popular Chinese animation "A Mortal's Journey" into a light-and-shadow epic, resonating with Guangzhou's enterprising city spirit.

2026广州新春灯会璀璨启幕，三大主题环漫游羊城千年文明史诗

1月30日。“粤韵千年・四海同心”2026广州新春灯会盛大启幕。本届灯会创新打造“一轴三环多点”布局，有机串联广州历史文脉与海丝文化精髓，并首次以越秀公园为主会场、联动全市七大公园分会场，实现全城光影绽放。

广州市越秀公园内，85组大型灯组与上万盏彩灯层层铺展、交相辉映。灯会深度融合诗词广州、国潮动漫、唐风海市等多元主题，为广大市民游客奉上一场“最广州、最岭南、最开放、最活力”的光影盛宴。

北秀湖畔，瑞典“哥德堡号”商船静静泊岸，配合真人NPC的情景互动，生动再现古代“市舶司”贸易现场；以十三行为蓝本的街景灯组，重现“金山珠海，天子南库”的繁华气象；而缀有“APEC”字样的灯笼，则巧妙呼应“四海同心”的灯会主题，传递广州与世界的联结与共融。

“这里不仅好看，还像上了一堂生动的历史课。”市民陈先生带着孩子观灯时连连赞叹，“从进门的醒狮到水边的商船，孩子一路走来就问个不停。关键是每个灯组背后都有故事，让这堂‘课’很深刻也很生动。”

除了厚重的历史叙事，“千年穗粤环”更融入了鲜明的当代气息与科技元素：全球首映的“粤韵迎财”360°穹顶XR球幕剧场打破观演边界；“国潮次元·漫想灯塔”灯组将热门国漫《凡人修仙传》主角韩立“逆天改命”的热血征程化为光影史诗，与广州“敢闯敢试”的城市精神共鸣。

文 | 记者 孙牧
图 | 记者 钟振彬 实习生 黄宇翔 钟锶琦
译丨郑奕玲
英文审校丨林佳岱