Tonglu 2026 “National Beauty and Fragrance” Immersive Lantern Festival

In 2026, Zigong Jiucai Culture And Art Co., Ltd. created the custom lantern displays for the Tonglu “National Beauty and Fragrance” Immersive Lantern Festival, a Chinese New Year attraction inspired by the aesthetics of the television drama National Beauty and Fragrance 

Located at Tonglu Central Square in Zhejiang, China, the festival combined traditional Zigong lantern craftsmanship with elegant Chinese aesthetics, floral imagery and local cultural elements to create an immersive nighttime experience.

From the magnificent Splendor of Blossoms entrance to illuminated peonies and artistic installations inspired by Chinese painting, the lantern displays transformed the public square into a vibrant world of light, color and traditional beauty.

The festival was also complemented by a lively New Year market, folk performances and interactive cultural activities, bringing together visual entertainment, cultural appreciation and the festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year.

For Jiucai, this project demonstrates how custom Chinese lanterns can translate a cultural theme into a distinctive illuminated environment, offering inspiration for festival organizers, tourism destinations, commercial venues and themed attractions.

Project Background: Where Screen-Inspired Aesthetics Meet Traditional Lantern Art

Today's cultural festivals increasingly combine visual storytelling, cultural identity and interactive experiences to create more engaging visitor destinations.

The Tonglu 2026 Lantern Festival adopted National Beauty and Fragrance as its central creative theme, drawing inspiration from the drama's elegant historical aesthetics and its association with peonies, classical gardens and traditional Chinese culture.

Rather than relying solely on conventional decorative lanterns, the display used themed installations to establish a cohesive visual atmosphere. Visitors could walk through illuminated entrances, admire oversized floral forms and discover artistic details throughout the festival space.

The result was a festive environment that connected traditional Chinese craftsmanship with contemporary cultural tourism.

For overseas buyers, the project offers a useful example of how a lantern display can be customized around a recognizable theme, seasonal celebration or destination-specific story.

Project Highlights

1. Splendor of Blossoms — A Grand Themed Entrance

The Splendor of Blossoms entrance served as a visual gateway into the festival experience.

Inspired by classical Chinese architecture and floral aesthetics, the entrance established the event's identity from the moment visitors arrived. Its illuminated structure created a prominent focal point and a natural setting for photography.

For festival organizers and commercial attraction operators, a well-designed entrance installation can help define a themed environment, create a welcoming first impression and establish visual continuity across the venue.

2. Illuminated Peonies — Celebrating the Beauty of Chinese Flowers

Peonies, a traditional symbol of prosperity, elegance and good fortune in Chinese culture, were an important visual element of the festival.

Through oversized floral forms, carefully coordinated colors and illuminated details, the displays translated the beauty of peonies into large-scale nighttime installations.

These floral lantern concepts demonstrate the versatility of custom silk lantern artistry, particularly for spring festivals, botanical gardens, cultural celebrations and immersive garden attractions.

3. Phoenix, Flowers and Classical Romance

The Phoenix Among Blossoms installation featured an expansive winged form surrounded by floral imagery, combining symbolic Chinese motifs with the visual impact of illuminated sculpture.

The Blossoms Beneath the Moon display used flowing lines and rich colors to evoke a romantic, dreamlike atmosphere.

Together, these installations illustrate how different lantern forms can work within a shared creative theme while maintaining their own visual identities.

For international event planners, similar design approaches can be adapted to fantasy gardens, seasonal light festivals, cultural exhibitions and themed nighttime attractions.

4. Art-Inspired Storytelling — The Treasure Box of Splendor

The Treasure Box of Splendor installation incorporated character artwork by Ye Qianyu, a painter born in Tonglu and known for his distinctive figure paintings.

This artistic reference connected the illuminated display with local cultural heritage, giving the installation a stronger sense of place.

The concept highlights an important advantage of custom lantern manufacturing: designs can be developed around more than decorative forms. Local artists, regional traditions, historical references and cultural narratives can also inform the creative direction of a display.

Note: The English names of the individual installations are descriptive translations for this case study.

Design Approach: Turning a Creative Theme into an Illuminated Experience

The Tonglu project illustrates several principles relevant to custom lantern displays for cultural tourism and seasonal events.

• Theme-led design

A clear creative direction helps establish consistency across entrances, floral installations and decorative scenes. Each installation contributes to the overall atmosphere while offering its own visual appeal.

• Traditional craftsmanship with contemporary presentation

Zigong lantern-making techniques allow complex shapes, decorative surfaces and illuminated structures to be developed for large-scale public displays.

• Visual focal points and visitor movement

Prominent entrances, oversized flowers and distinctive sculptural installations can help create natural points of interest throughout a festival venue. Their placement should be coordinated with the actual site layout and visitor routes.

• Local cultural integration

Incorporating regional artistic references can make a display more meaningful to its host destination. The use of Ye Qianyu's artwork in the Treasure Box of Splendor concept provides an example of how local cultural identity can inform a themed installation.

These principles can be applied to many types of custom lantern projects, although the final design and production requirements depend on the venue, theme, budget and installation conditions.

Project Specifications

Why This Project Matters to International Buyers

The Tonglu lantern festival demonstrates how a themed display can combine artistic craftsmanship with a clear creative identity.

For international buyers considering custom lanterns or larger themed displays, the project offers several relevant ideas.

• For festival organizers: Develop distinctive seasonal attractions using customized lantern installations.
• For tourism destinations: Introduce cultural storytelling through illuminated environments and themed visual landmarks.
• For theme parks and gardens: Explore floral, fantasy and heritage-inspired displays for nighttime experiences.
• For shopping malls and commercial venues: Create seasonal focal points that give visitors a reason to explore, photograph and share the space.
• For cultural event producers: Adapt traditional artistic techniques to themes that reflect local history, regional identity or a particular celebration.

The key takeaway is that custom lanterns can serve as more than decorative products. When developed around a coherent theme, they can become part of a broader visitor experience.

From Custom Lantern Products to Themed Display Solutions

At Zigong Jiucai Culture And Art Co., Ltd., we specialize in custom cultural lanterns and illuminated display products, drawing on the artistic traditions of Zigong lantern craftsmanship.

The Tonglu 2026 project reflects our approach to themed lantern displays: translating creative concepts into distinctive illuminated installations while considering the visual character and intended application of each design.

We support buyers looking for individual custom lanterns as well as coordinated product combinations for festivals, cultural celebrations, gardens and commercial displays.

For projects with broader requirements, the design concept, product scope, production schedule, delivery arrangements and any installation support can be discussed according to the specific needs of the client.

More Than Products. We Build Solutions.

Planning a Chinese New Year celebration, an immersive lantern festival or a themed nighttime attraction?

Contact Jiucai to discuss your creative concept, custom lantern requirements and the most suitable products for your venue.

Explore our Festival & Holiday Lanterns or contact our team to start your custom lantern inquiry.

Contact Zigong Jiucai Culture And Art Co., Ltd. to discuss your next project.