Zigong Lights Up with Immersive Lantern Festival

Step into a world where ancient traditions meet futuristic tech! The Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival, held during the Spring Festival’s grand finale, is dazzling visitors with its first-ever ‘story + gamification’ concept. Imagine lantern-lit pathways guiding you through AR mysteries and live-action roleplay – it’s like stepping into a real-life video game!

Why Zigong?

Known as the ‘City of a Thousand Lights,’ Zigong in Sichuan Province has crafted lanterns for over a millennium. Locals believe these glowing artworks symbolize prosperity and hope – and this year, they’re using VR and interactive storytelling to light up Gen Z’s imagination.

From Dinosaurs to Digital

This isn’t your grandma’s lantern show. Visitors solve puzzles via mobile apps, explore augmented reality displays, and even influence the storyline through their choices. Think ‘Westworld’ meets TikTok trends – all under a sky of handmade silk-and-bamboo masterpieces.

Organizers say blending folklore with tech aims to make cultural heritage feel fresh for global youth. As one designer put it: ‘Lanterns aren’t just history – they’re how we talk to the future.’

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City of a Thousand Lights

cgtn.com