Science Fiction Meets Chinese Lanterns: The Galaxy Awards Arrive in Zigong
When science fiction meets the traditional art of Chinese lanterns, imagination can become a physical experience.
In September 2026, the 37th Galaxy Awards, widely recognized as one of China's most prestigious science fiction awards, will arrive in Zigong, the City of Lanterns. From September 10 to 12, the “Zigong Lantern Festival · 37th Galaxy Awards Ceremony · 20th Anniversary of The Three-Body Problem" series of events will bring together science fiction writers, creators, cultural organizations and lantern craftsmanship in a unique cross-industry celebration.
For the lantern industry, however, this is more than a cultural event.
It represents a new direction for custom festival lanterns, IP-themed light installations, immersive cultural tourism and large-scale themed attractions.
The collaboration between the Galaxy Awards and Zigong demonstrates how traditional Chinese lantern craftsmanship can connect with modern science fiction IP, digital technology and commercial entertainment to create completely new visitor experiences.
From Science Fiction IP to Illuminated Experiences
Founded in 1985, the Galaxy Awards have played an important role in the development of Chinese science fiction. Over the decades, many influential Chinese science fiction writers and works have become closely associated with the awards, helping shape the country's science fiction culture.
Now, this science fiction legacy is meeting Zigong's thousand-year lantern culture.
Zigong is internationally known for its spectacular Chinese lantern festivals and large-scale illuminated installations. Traditional lantern craftsmanship has evolved from handcrafted festival decorations into sophisticated visual experiences incorporating steel structures, LED lighting, interactive technology, mechanical movement and digital control.
This creates an exciting possibility:
What if a science fiction story could be transformed from words and images into a giant illuminated landscape?
- A spaceship could become a 15-meter-high entrance installation.
- A futuristic city could become an immersive lantern zone.
- A fictional creature could become a life-size illuminated sculpture.
- A famous science fiction character could become an interactive photo opportunity.
This is where custom lantern manufacturing and IP-based creative design become especially valuable.
Why “Science Fiction + Lanterns" Creates New Opportunities
The partnership between science fiction and lantern festivals is a natural combination of storytelling and visual experience.
Science fiction provides:
- Characters and creatures
- Futuristic worlds
- Space exploration themes
- Advanced technology concepts
- Strong visual storytelling
- Global fan communities
Lantern craftsmanship provides:
- Large-scale illuminated structures
- Custom shapes and sizes
- Vibrant LED lighting effects
- Outdoor display capabilities
- Immersive themed environments
- High-impact photo opportunities
Together, they can transform an ordinary event into a large-scale immersive light experience.
For theme parks, cultural tourism destinations, zoos, museums, shopping malls and seasonal festivals, this creates opportunities to develop distinctive attractions that combine storytelling, lighting, entertainment and commercial experiences.
Zigong: Where Traditional Lantern Craft Meets Modern Technology
Zigong's lantern industry has developed far beyond traditional festival decorations.
Today, the city has built a comprehensive lantern industry ecosystem covering design, structural fabrication, lighting technology, artistic production, installation and project operation. According to local reporting, Zigong's lantern industry includes more than 1,800 related enterprises, supports approximately 300,000 jobs and generates more than RMB 8 billion in annual revenue. Its lantern products also have a strong international presence.
This industrial foundation is one of the reasons Zigong can handle large-scale international lantern projects.
Modern giant Chinese lanterns can combine:
- Heavy-duty steel frames
- High-strength internal structures
- Weather-resistant fabric
- LED lighting systems
- Dynamic mechanical components
- Programmable lighting effects
- Interactive sensors
- Digital control systems
- Customized architectural structures
The result is no longer simply a “lantern."
It becomes a large-scale illuminated installation.
SCI-FI * LANTERN FESTIVAL
| Project Value | Key Information |
|---|---|
| 37th Galaxy Awards | Major Chinese science fiction award |
| Zigong, China | Internationally recognized “City of Lanterns" |
| 1,800+ | Lantern-related enterprises in Zigong |
| 300,000 | Approx. industry employment |
| RMB 8B+ | Annual lantern industry revenue |
| 92% | Reported overseas market share |
| IP + Technology | Lanterns, AIGC, copyright, cultural tourism |
From Traditional Lanterns to Giant Themed Installations
One of the defining characteristics of Zigong lantern craftsmanship is its ability to transform almost any creative concept into a physical illuminated structure.
A project can start with something as simple as a sketch, illustration, brand concept or fictional character.
The design team can then develop it into a production-ready structure through:
- Concept Design → 3D Modeling → Engineering → Prototype → Fabrication → Lighting Installation → Quality Inspection → Shipping → On-Site Installation
This workflow makes custom lanterns suitable for a wide range of international projects.
Popular Applications
- Theme Parks
Create seasonal attractions, fantasy worlds, futuristic cities and immersive night-time experiences. - Zoos & Wildlife Parks
Transform animals and prehistoric creatures into giant illuminated installations. - Museums & Science Centers
Use science, technology and space themes to create educational and interactive displays. - Shopping Malls
Develop high-impact seasonal decorations that encourage visitors to take photos and share content online. - Cultural Tourism Destinations
Combine local culture with large-scale illuminated art to create new night-time tourism experiences. - Christmas & Holiday Events
Develop customized characters, architectural structures and themed light installations for international festivals. - Brand & IP Events
Turn licensed characters, movies, games, books or original brand concepts into large-scale illuminated displays.
Beyond Lanterns: Combining Lanterns with Animatronic Models
The “science fiction + lantern" concept also demonstrates an important opportunity for another growing category: custom animatronic and realistic models.
For international buyers, combining illuminated lanterns with realistic models can create a much more immersive environment.
For example:
- Sci-Fi Exhibition
Giant illuminated spacecraft + robotic creatures + futuristic architectural structures. - Dinosaur Theme Park
Giant dinosaur lanterns + animatronic dinosaurs + interactive sound and movement. - Fantasy Festival
Fairytale castles + illuminated characters + mechanical creatures + interactive photo spots. - Space-Themed Event
Planetary installations + astronauts + spacecraft + futuristic robots.
This combination allows suppliers to provide more than individual products.
It enables the development of a complete themed environment.
IP Integration Is Becoming the Next Step for Lantern Projects
One of the most important lessons from the Galaxy Awards and Zigong collaboration is the growing value of IP-based cultural and entertainment projects.
According to the 2026 China Science Fiction Industry Report, China's science fiction industry generated RMB 126.1 billion in total revenue in 2025, representing 15.7% year-on-year growth. The report covers science fiction publishing, film and television, games, derivative products and cultural tourism, showing how science fiction is increasingly developing into a diversified commercial ecosystem.
For lantern manufacturers, this means the opportunity is expanding from:
“Manufacturing lanterns"
to:
“Turning IP concepts into physical experiences."
For overseas buyers, this can significantly reduce project complexity.
Instead of sourcing:
- lantern manufacturers
- sculpture manufacturers
- animatronic suppliers
- lighting contractors
- installation teams
from multiple companies, an experienced creative manufacturing partner can coordinate different elements into one integrated project.
From Concept to Commercial Project
For international clients, a successful lantern project is not simply about producing beautiful products.
It also requires reliable project execution.
A professional custom lantern supplier should be able to support the complete process:
- Creative Concept Development
Transform a theme, character, IP or reference image into a suitable lantern concept.
- 3D Design & Engineering
Develop detailed structures, dimensions, lighting layouts and production drawings.
- Custom Manufacturing
Fabricate the steel framework, artistic surface, lighting system and mechanical components.
- Quality & Safety Inspection
Check structural stability, electrical systems, lighting components and outdoor suitability.
- International Packaging & Shipping
Prepare large-scale components for overseas transportation and installation.
- On-Site Installation Support
Provide installation guidance or professional installation services depending on the project.
This one-stop custom lantern solution is particularly valuable for overseas theme parks, cultural tourism operators and event companies.
Why Customization Matters for International Lantern Projects
Off-the-shelf decorations are often limited by fixed dimensions, designs and themes.
Large international projects are different.
Every destination has its own:
- Available installation area
- Visitor flow
- Brand identity
- Cultural background
- Seasonal calendar
- Weather conditions
- Safety requirements
- Budget
- Target audience
That is why custom festival lanterns are increasingly important for large-scale projects.
Lantern structures can be customized in:
- Size
- Shape
- Theme
- Color
- Lighting effects
- Materials
- Characters
- Architectural style
- Interactive functions
- Installation configuration
From a small entrance decoration to a 20-meter-scale landmark installation, the design can be developed according to the project's requirements.
The Future of Lantern Festivals: Culture + Technology + Art + Commerce
The Galaxy Awards' arrival in Zigong reflects a much broader trend.
Traditional cultural products are increasingly being combined with technology, IP and commercial experiences.
Zigong itself has three powerful cultural identities:
- The Millennium Salt Capital.
- The Hometown of Dinosaurs.
- The City of Lanterns.
These cultural resources provide enormous possibilities for future themed attractions.
Imagine a destination where visitors can walk through:
- A prehistoric dinosaur world
- A futuristic science fiction city
- An illuminated salt-mine universe
- A traditional Chinese lantern kingdom
- An interactive fantasy forest
The boundary between lantern festival, theme park, museum, cultural tourism and immersive entertainment is becoming increasingly blurred.
For international buyers, this opens the door to a new generation of custom attractions.
What This Means for Overseas Buyers
The Zigong–Galaxy Awards collaboration sends an important message to the global lantern and themed-entertainment market:
Chinese lantern manufacturing is evolving from traditional decoration production into integrated creative project development.
For overseas buyers looking for a custom lantern manufacturer, the key capability is no longer simply production capacity.
It is the ability to understand a concept and turn it into a complete physical experience.
That includes:
- Creative Design + IP Integration + Structural Engineering + Lantern Manufacturing + Lighting Technology + Animatronic Models + Installation Support
This integrated approach can help international clients develop more distinctive attractions while reducing the complexity of managing multiple suppliers.
Building the Next Generation of Custom Lantern Experiences
The meeting between science fiction and Zigong lantern culture is more than a one-time event.
It represents a new creative direction for the international lantern industry.
From Chinese New Year lantern festivals to Christmas light shows, from dinosaur exhibitions to science fiction attractions, from shopping mall installations to large-scale theme parks, custom illuminated environments can combine traditional craftsmanship with modern technology and global IP.
At Zigong Jiucai Culture Co., Ltd., we focus on developing customized festival lanterns, giant lantern installations, themed illuminated displays, realistic models and animatronic attractions for international projects.
Whether you are planning a lantern festival, theme park attraction, cultural tourism project, museum exhibition, seasonal event or branded immersive experience, we can help transform your creative concept into a production-ready solution.
Your idea starts with a concept.
We turn it into a world visitors can walk into.
Looking for a Custom Lantern Manufacturer?
Tell us about your project, theme, dimensions and target market.
Our team can help develop a customized solution covering concept design, 3D development, manufacturing, lighting, animatronic integration, packaging and installation support.
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